Dustin Lance Black, the 49-year-old Hollywood screenwriter, is demanding an apology and ‘a lot of money’ from the UK government over his 2023 assault trial. The case against Black collapsed mid-trial when the judge dismissed the charge, citing inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case and lack of evidence of an actual assault.

Black expressed his desire for an apology from the Crown, stating, ‘I hope I never experience injustice that deep and damaging again in my life… Listen, I never even had to testify. The prosecution’s evidence exonerated me. That is a malicious prosecution… I think that the crown, the government owes me an apology. And I have not received it. I think they also owe me a lot of money.’

The alleged incident involved Black lashing out at BBC presenter Teddy Edwardes at a nightclub in central London in August. However, the judge overseeing the case pointed out contradictions in the accuser’s evidence and declared that CCTV footage of the alleged incident did not show an assault. Black’s defence lawyer argued that it was the accuser who had shown aggression, as Edwardes received a police caution for punching the writer in the back of the head following their row.

Following the judge’s dismissal, Black expressed gratitude, stating, ‘This case has flown in the face of everything that I am. I am very grateful to the judge for exonerating me.’