Chadwick Boseman’s Widow Says His Brothers Are Trying to ‘Smear’ Her With ‘PR Stunt’ Lawsuit

Chadwick Boseman’s widow is defending herself against claims that she’s mismanaged the late Marvel actor’s estate. 

Chadwick Boseman’s widow says his brothers have launched a ‘baseless attack’ against her

Taylor Simone Ledward has responded to a lawsuit filed in July by her husband’s brothers, Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman, in which they say she failed to distribute the required 50% of their siblings’s estate to their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman. Derrick and Kevin, who are suing on behalf of their parents, are asking for Ledward to be removed as the administrator of the estate.

Ledward called the lawsuit a “baseless attack” and a “public-relations stunt to smear [her] in the tabloid press,” according to new court documents obtained by Page Six. 

In a response filed September 24 in Los Angeles court, Ledward strongly refuted the allegations that she did not pass along half of the actor’s substantial wealth to his parents as she was required to do. (Boseman died without a will in August 2020. Fifty percent of his estate went to his wife, with his parents each receiving 25%.) In addition, she says she has gone above and beyond in helping her in-laws financially. 

“Simone has not only complied with the Order, but as a product solely of her own extraordinary generosity, she has gone well beyond what was required of her,” Ledward’s lawyer Adam Streisand wrote in his filing. 

Ledward has not only been generous financially, but has also “always included the Boseman family in her efforts to ensure Chadwick’s memory would endure and flourish long after her husband’s tragic and untimely death,” Streisand continued.

“This is how the family repays her: a Petition replete with falsehoods under oath, purposefully used as a public-relations stunt to smear Simone in the tabloid press, not to mention the collateral damage it has caused to her husband’s legacy,” he wrote.

‘Black Panther’ star died without a will

The filing included a detailed accounting of Boseman’s estate, half of which Ledward says she has distributed to his parents. Those assets include $151,558.00 in a Bank of America account; 100 Shares of Chadwick Boseman, Inc. valued at $3,396,969.00; a $40,000 life insurance policy; a additional bank account with $241,180.75; and unclaimed property, valued at $0.88.

The only remaining asset that has not been distributed is an IRA worth $300,000. That’s because legal action from the brothers has held up the process, Ledward’s lawyer says.  

Aside from handling her late husband’s financial affairs after his death, Ledward has also gifted $300,000 of her own money to Derrick’s children. She’s also managed other projects, including establishing a foundation in the Black Panther star’s name, licensing his play Deep Azure for production in London, and landing a documentary deal, all “on terms structured to benefit both sides of the family equally.”

Streisand also said that Boseman had earned roughly $300,000 in residuals following his death. Ledward distributed $150,000 directly to his brothers, per their parents’ request.  

The filing also revealed that Boseman and Ledward married just six days before his death from colon cancer, and that Derrick officiated the wedding. 

“Simone stood by Chadwick’s side and cared for him throughout his battle with cancer,” Streisand wrote, “It was no surprise that, notwithstanding the end of his life was near, Chadwick wanted Simone to be his wife.”

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