“Imagine flipping through the channels and stumbling on a film starring your deceased son or brother, knowing that someone you do not know or trust is profiting from his image without your input or consent.”
That image of grief and betrayal is at the heart of a legal battle engulfing the family of Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther star who died aged 43 in 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer.
“Chadwick Boseman's brothers file court petition to remove his widow as estate administrator, accusing her of mishandling funds.”
His brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, have filed a petition in a Los Angeles court to force his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, to distribute the late actor’s multimillion-dollar estate to family members — and to have her removed as its controller.
The petition, filed on behalf of their parents Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, accuses Ledward of mishandling the funds and says she “cannot be trusted with the continued administration of the estate”.
Boseman died without a will, leaving assets worth $3.8m (£2.9m). A court later ruled that 50% should go to Ledward, with 25% each to his parents. Ledward was appointed administrator of the estate.
But the brothers claim she “has still not distributed the estate” and “continues to exert unilateral control” over it. They also accuse her of creating a “lack of transparency” around Boseman’s assets and of keeping his parents “in the dark” about the deals and operations of a company set up to manage his image and rights.
“The misconduct is causing ongoing harm” to the elderly parents, the filing says, depriving them “of financial assets at a vulnerable age when such support is most critical”. It adds that “the needless continuation of these proceedings denies Decedent’s family closure and causes emotional distress.”
Ledward, an R&B artist who uses the name Sahn, began dating Boseman in 2015 and married him just six days before his death in August 2020. The BBC has asked her lawyer for comment.
In a statement to US media, the brothers said: “On behalf of our parents, we are committed to ensuring that transparency, accountability, and respect guide the resolution of these matters. Our hope is that this process brings clarity, honors the court’s orders, and ensures the responsible stewardship of Chadwick’s legacy. We love our brother, and we remain committed to preserving his legacy with dignity, integrity, and respect.”
