A few days ago, we showed a video of Damon Dash approaching filmmaker Lee Daniels over an alleged $2 million debt. In the caption space of the video, Dame explained that he lent the Empire creator the money to make a movie but never got anything back.
On Wednesday (June 27), the former music exec sat down with TMZ and provided more details about his claim and said the first time he lent Daniels money for a film things worked out fine.
"He approached me about a script called The Woodsman, and he had Kevin Bacon attached, Kyra Sedgwick, Mos Def and Eve," said Dame. "I believed in the script, and I had the money, and he told me no one would cut the check. Culturally, we don't stick together. Oprah won't look out, Denzel won't look out. I had it and I wanted to be in the movie business. So I gave him $2 million ... It wasn't in payments. I gave him a flat $2 million ... And we got our money back."
But problems arose the second time Daniels asked Dame for money.
"So then he came to me and said he had this script Shadowboxer and I was like, 'This script is like a little crazy.' And he was like 'Listen man, I'm going to showcase my directing skills here. You'll get your money back in a month. I promise you ... Just do this for me. Let's keep sticking together.' I said alright cool, just make sure I get my money back no matter what."
Daniels agreed to Dame's terms but the movie ended up costing close to $10 million, so others investors had to get in and Dame lost control. Afterward, Daniels went missing and Dame explained why he calls him a "culture vulture."
" All his subject matter is about the culture, but when it comes time to pay back the culture that helps you, he has no explanation, and I tried to work it out with him. We spoke on the phone, but he just keeps lying to me.?
Do you think Dame taking his beef with Daniels to the press is the right way to go?