Sex tape leak was planned? Ray J countersues Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, claims they broke $6m secret deal

What began as a scandal in 2007 has evolved into a courtroom spectacle nearly two decades later. Ray J or William Ray Norwood Jr has officially countersued Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, accusing them of breaching a 2023 settlement tied to their infamous sex tape and launching a “public relations charade” to punish him for refusing to play his part.

In his November 13 filing, Ray J claimed that he entered into a confidential mediation agreement with Kim and Kris in April 2023.According to the countersuit, the settlement of reportedly worth $6 million, stipulated that no party would publicly reference the sex tape again. Yet Ray J alleges that months later, during Season 3 of The Kardashians, both Kim and Kris violated the agreement, referencing the tape and undermining the deal’s intent.

He is seeking at least $1 million in damages plus unspecified legal relief.

His charges: Breach, big money and a ‘false victim narrative’

Ray J’s case does not just allege contractual breach, he goes further. He asserted that the Kardashian-Jenner camp orchestrated the tape’s original release via Vivid Entertainment, engineered a fake “leak” lawsuit for publicity and then monetised the fallout by casting Kim as a victim.His filing accuses them of a decades-long campaign of manipulation, “They are furious that Norwood no longer wants to play along with their tall tale.”

In response, Kim and Kris have already sued Ray J for defamation, meaning that both sides are now locked in legal crossfire.

What comes next

The countersuit opens new questions:

Legal analysts note that celebrity cases of this nature often settle quietly but the public nature of this fight makes it one of the more compelling media narratives of 2025.

Why this still matters

At a first glance, this may look like just another celebrity legal battle but underneath lies a deeper story about power, narrative control and legacy.

It is about the control of the story. Ray J argues that he has been side-lined from the story that helped launch Kardashian’s empire and is fighting back. As far as celebrity branding and reputation is concerned, the sex tape was an origin story for Kim and Kris. For Ray J, it has been a living brand and now a grievance.

The case highlights how scandals, releases and celebrity trajectories intersect in modern media culture.This story is more than a lawsuit. It is a reflection of how the sex-tape moment acted as the catalyst for a global celebrity phenomenon. This is a moment to ask: what does it mean when one party claims victimhood and the other claims manipulation? And how much of the “tell-all” culture we consume is manufactured from the start?In the end, Ray J’s legal move forces us to rewind, re-examine and rethink what we assumed about one of the most-famous celebrity origin stories of the 21st century. Whether you are invested in parties, pay-per-view or pop mythology, this chapter promises more than gossip; it is about who writes the narrative and who lives with its consequences.