The man who physically attacked comedian Steve Brown during his comedy show has been caught and arrested on several assault charges. Get the latest, plus get details about the new sexual assault lawsuit brought against Russell Simmons inside…
A show in Columbia, SC last weekend turned into a nightmare for comedian Steve Brown (above).
The comedian ended up being viciously attacked onstage during his stand-up routine by an audience member named Marvin Toatley. According to Steve, the man was laughing and actually enjoying the show before ish went left. Steve said he witnessed the man get into an argument with his girlfriend in the audience before the man ended up slapping her in the face. Steve asked him "What’s wrong?" and that’s when the man jumped on stage to attack him.
Check it:
That’s so crazy.
Now, the attacker is behind bars.
Marvin Toatley was reportedly arrested Wednesday morning (January 24th), according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. He was brought up on three counts, including assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, one count of assault and battery third degree, and one count of malicious injury to property, according to The Blast.
And here’s his mugshot:
While he wasn't seriously injured, Steve did suffer one injury - a gash on the back of his arm when the man hit him with the mic stand. See it below:
TMZ asked Steve if he was going to press charges. At first, he said he didn't know if he would. Then, when he was reminded the man slapped his girlfriend, he said he would be pressing charges.
Peep the clip below:
Despite the violent altercation, Steve seems to be in good spirits. He's still cracking jokes on Instagram and even reposting roast videos of the fight.
In more legal woes...
Russell Simmons is currently being investigated by the NYPD over rape and sexual assault allegations. Now, he’s being sued.
An aspiring filmmaker, named Jennifer Jarosik, pulled the trigger on a $5 million lawsuit against the Hip Hop mogul in the U.S. District Court in Central California making claims Russell raped her inside of his Beverly Hills home.
Jennifer said she first met the Def Jam founder in NYC in 2006 where they connected over “love and passion for mediation, yoga and a vegan diet.” She was working on a new documentary and Russell agreed to appear in it. Not only that, he also offered to finance and co-produce the project, which was titled “Goddesses.”
Fast forward 10 years later, Jennifer moves to LA. She said Russell invited her to his home in August 2016 and that’s when the attack occurred.
The Blast reports:
Jarosik says Simmons “got aggressive” and pushed her onto his bed. She claims while trying to keep Simmons away from her, he knocked her off his bed and she hit her head. While still in “shock and fear,” Jarosik claims Simmons “pounced on her” and “proceeded to rape her.”
Jarosik claims to have disclosed the incident to a few friends, but “felt somehow it was partially her fault since she was not strong enough to resist.” She says that after other women began coming forward with similar stories of assault and harassment by the mogul, she contacted him. Simmons allegedly “pretended it never happened” when contacted by Jarosik. In the documents, Simmons is also accused of contributing to the “sexual exploitation of women” in hip-hop, and states that Jarosik hopes the “Hip Hop industry faces the music and recognizes that the deep-rooted history of misogyny and discrimination against women in the music industry has come to an end, now.” Jarosik is seeking $5,000,000 in damages.
Her formidable attorney, Perry Wander, says “Mr. Simmons practices meditation, yoga and is a long time vegan practicing non violence against animals. So basically he treats animals better than women. The hypocrisy has to stop now.” As if to add one more dig against Simmons … “#TimesUp” is written in bold at the end of several pages of the lawsuit.
She’s clearly sending a message she’s not messing around.
The lawsuit also claims that Russell “has historically thrived on the sexual exploitation of young women trying to break into the entertainment and music industry, in which young female artists are falsely promised opportunities and advancement by experienced and well-established men in power in the industry, with their careers in jeopardy if they resist the sexual overtures of these powerful men.”
Since these sex allegations were brought to light against the Hip Hop mogul, he has always claimed his innocence. The father -of-two even offered to take a polygraph test in one of the cases.
He issued a statement addressing the $5 million lawsuit, telling Rolling Stone:
This allegation is absolutely untrue. I look forward to having my day in court - where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known. In the meantime, please understand that I will not litigate this matter in the media. I am confident that when all is said and all is done, it will be as clear to others as it is to me that I did not do what this lawsuit accuses me of doing.
These horrific accusations have shocked me to my core and all of my relations have been consensual. I am blessed to have shared extraordinary relationships, whether through work or love, with many great women; and I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power. I am devastated by any reason I may have given to anyone to say or think of me in the ways that are currently being described. In recent weeks, some former business, creative and romantic partners have aired grievances as claims I categorically reject. In some of these instances, financial motives and direct contradictory witness testimony has been supplied to the media, which has been completely left out of stories. The current allegations range from the patently untrue to the frivolous and hurtful. The presumption of innocent until proven guilty must not be replaced by “Guilty by Accusation.”
I have already apologized for the instances of thoughtlessness in my consensual relations. I have separated myself from my businesses and charities in order to not become a distraction. I have re-dedicated myself to spiritual learning, healing and working on behalf of the communities to which I have devoted my life. I have accepted that I can and should get dirt on my sleeves if it means witnessing the birth of a new consciousness about women. What I will not accept is responsibility for what I have not done. I have conducted my life with a message of peace and love. Although I have been candid about how I have lived in books and interviews detailing my flaws, I will relentlessly fight against any untruthful character assassination that paints me as a man of violence.
At this point, about 14 women have come forward with sexual assault accusations against Russell. One woman said Russell sexually assaulted her in the 90s when she was 17-years-old and Brett Ratner watched.
It’s unclear if this woman was included in one of the women coming forward or not.
Photos:Steve's IG/Richland County Police/Getty
