Dustin Lance Black, the renowned 49-year-old screenwriter who won an Oscar for his screenplay “Milk,” has been accused of assaulting Teddy Edwardes at Freedom nightclub in London in August 2022. He made a court appearance on August 8th, 2023.
Black, who is married to Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, allegedly intentionally spilled a drink on Edwardes, a party planner who features on BBC Three’s “Big Proud Party Agency.” In what is being described as a retaliatory act, Edwardes reportedly punched Black in the head.
Prosecutor Adrita Ahmed presented the Crown’s case in Westminster Magistrates Court, detailing the alleged nightclub altercation. Ahmed explained that Black grabbed Edwardes’ wrist, twisting it and causing the drink to spill. Edwardes’ reaction, Ahmed said, was retaliatory.
Ahmed further stated that Edwardes had been cautioned in February for “going too far in self-defence.” Black has responded to these allegations by denying the charge of assault by beating.
The incident reportedly occurred during a night out on August 18th, 2022, when Edwardes approached Black and Daley with drinks. Edwardes later took to Instagram, claiming that Black threw an entire drink at her “pretty much unprovoked.”
Edwardes added, “I wasn’t that violent; he got a little tap on the head. Tell me why he is crying outside, saying it’s a targeted attack, and he’s traumatised, and now I have to go in for interviews.”
Black’s defence barrister, Helena Duong, countered these claims in court, explaining that Black attempted to walk away from the situation. Duong stated that CCTV footage shows Edwardes’ aggressive behaviour, which prompted Black’s reaction.
The trial has been temporarily halted due to missing evidence, including the loss of Edwardes’ police interview tape and the absence of a statement from the interviewing officer. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring noted it was “not the most evidentially strong case.”
After an April hearing, a spokesperson for Dustin Lance Black conveyed his surprise and sadness regarding the court’s decision to examine the spilled drink incident. The spokesperson also noted Black’s intention to respect the process while focusing on his family life.
Black and Daley, married since 2017, recently celebrated the birth of their second child, Phoenix, in April. Their first son, Robbie, was born in 2018.
The trial concerning this high-profile case is scheduled to resume on November 8th, with much attention focused on the details and outcome.
