Tiffany Haddish’s Ex-Friend Asks Judge to Deny Actress’ Attempt To Bring Lawsuit To Arbitration

After comedian Tiffany Haddish’s former friend Trizah Morris filed a lawsuit against the actor for defamation earlier this year, Haddish responded that she wanted the suit settled by an arbitrator, preferably in private.

Now, according to Radar Online, Morris wants a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to deny Haddish’s motion.

Haddish claimed that Morris signed an agreement that all disputes would be brought before a private court. But Morris contends the agreement was signed under “extreme duress, threats, bullying, intimidation and coercion” from Haddish and her attorney—specifically, exposing the names of her son and daughter.

Although she admitted to signing the agreement, Morris said Haddish hasn’t held up her end of the deal. Haddish is accused of not making payments of $100,000 per breach of the agreement.

Morris is the mother of the two children who accused Haddish and comedian Aries Spears of sexual abuse. The current lawsuit was filed one year after her children sued Haddish and Spears.

According to the documents filed, Morris said Haddish became close with her family, with the two children calling the comedian “Auntie Tiff.” In the summer of 2014, Morris alleged that Haddish “groomed and solicited” the children, then minors, to “perform in, film, record, publish, and distribute sexually inappropriate” material.

Morris alleges that after her children dismissed the case in September 2022, Haddish and Aries defamed her by publicly stating that she was trying to extort them. In February, Morris claims she contacted the attorneys of both comedians requesting they release a statement clearing her from the extortion claims. That did not happen.

Morris says she has suffered personally, academically, professionally, and financially due to the comedian speaking ill of her. According to the lawsuit, she has suffered anxiety and mental anguish over the damage done to her reputation.