Jenna Dewan claims ex Channing Tatum hid details of his earnings from the lucrative Magic Mike movie and demanded she should get a cut of the earnings since they were still married when the idea for the sexy striptease franchise was developed.
During a hearing at a Los Angeles court on Friday, Dewan’s attorney, Samantha Spector, said her client received ‘some’ money, but it’s still unknown how much should be divided between the exes because she alleges Tatum has had complete control over the business finances and trust.
Spector said child support and the division of other properties and assets can’t be determined unless the Magic Mike issue is first addressed.
‘The Magic Mike intellectual property and all the proceeds thereon is the elephant in the room,’ Spector said to Judge David Wasserman on Friday. ‘We have, for the last couple of years, been trying to meaningfully resolve this case, but every time we do, we get stuck on that issue with Magic Mike.
‘We are dealing with a potential billion-dollar asset.’
Jenna Dewan at the FASHION TRUST U.S. Awards on April 9, 2024 in Beverly Hills, Calif. The actress is fighting ex-husband Channing Tatum for earnings she said she is entitled to from the Magic Mike movie franchise
Channing Tatum at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar party in Los Angeles. The actor denies his ex’s allegations that he tried to hide earnings from his Magic Mike movies
Tatum (center) starred and co-financed the movie, which became a critical and box office hit and earned about $167 million globally
Tatum and Dewan did not physically appear in court on Friday. Tatum listened to the proceedings virtually, but remained silent during the hearing.
The former Hollywood couple, who were married from July 2009 to November 2019, share 10-year-old daughter, Everly, but have since moved on to other relationships.
Tatum is engaged to actress Zoë Kravitz, while Dewan is expecting her second baby with fiancé Steve Kazee. They also have a three-year-old son, Callum.
In court papers obtained by DailyMail.com, Dewan claims both she and Tatum acquired the Magic Mike intellectual property together since they were still married at the time the movie was being developed.
Tatum, who was then an up-and-coming leading man, starred in the first Magic Mike movie in 2012, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh.
The movie was largely based on Tatum’s own experience as a young stripper when he lived in Florida.
Tatum and Soderbergh co-financed the modest $7 million project, which became a critical and box office hit and earned about $167 million globally.
Two other movies followed, and a striptease show and tour based on the movie also garnered national success.
Dewan is expecting her second baby with fiancé Steve Kazee. They also have a three-year-old son, Callum
Tatum is engaged to actress Zoë Kravitz
Tatum’s attorneys on Friday denied Dewan’s claims that the actor hid proceeds in an irrevocable trust.
They also claimed the Magic Mike actor ‘has never denied’ Dewan’s share of community assets or income.
‘All transactions were made at arm’s length; Petitioner was represented by counsel, signed gift tax returns, and actively participated in transactions for the benefit of the community and the parties’ daughter,’ Tatum’s attorneys wrote in an affidavit.
‘The evidence will show Respondent [Tatum] has never taken actions to detriment the community or Petitioner [Dewan].’
His attorney, Jacqueline Combs, also said the Magic Mike franchise made most of its money after the couple had already separated, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.
At Friday’s hearing, Combs said Tatum has tried multiple times to resolve the issue with his ex without having to go through a separate trial, but were instead met with Dewan’s ‘unnecessarily litigious conduct and delay tactics.’
The former Hollywood couple, who were married from July 2009 to November 2019, share 10-year-old daughter, Everly, but have since moved on to other relationships
Dewan, with son, Callum, is expecting to give birth to her third child in June
‘This has been going on for six years and it’s very important to move the case to trial,’ a frustrated Combs told the judge.
Dewan’s attorneys said they also were prepared to go to trial, but alerted the judge that the actress is set to give birth in mid-June.
The judge said he was ‘very aware’ of her due date and ordered time to depose Dewan before she has the baby.
The judge said both Dewan and Tatum should be deposed no later than July 26.
The parties will return on May 15 to determine whether the Magic Mike intellectual property issue will require a separate short trial.
For now, a trial date has been set in December.
Both sides have indicated they plan to call the other to the stand.
‘This is your last chance,’ Judge Wasserman told both sides. ‘This is it.’