OWN’s “Love Is” Reportedly Cancelled Over Lawsuits Against Creator Salim Akil

Back in July, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN ordered a second season of its romantic drama series, “Love Is,” created by and based on the real-life relationship of the production duo Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. 

According to Deadline, the renewal came after the show ranked as the No. 1 on cable in its time period, with 1.2 million viewers and a 1.2 rating among women, according to OWN and Nielsen. But now, amid excitement over the forthcoming season, sources tell LoveBScott that the network has decided to pull the plug on the hit series.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

While the exact reason remains unclear, sources say the cancellation is due, in part, to the domestic violence lawsuit against Salim. 

If you recall, back in November, the executive producer was accused of domestic violence and copyright infringement in two separate lawsuits. At the time, actress and screenwriter Amber Dixon Brenner said she had a decade-long sexual affair with Akil, in which he abused her on several occasions. In addition to the physical abuse, Brenner also accused Akil of sexual assault, as she claimed he forced her to perform oral sex on him. 

In a separate suit, Brenner accused Akil, his wife and Oprah’s OWN network of stealing her story for “Love Is.” However, she has since dropped the infringement suit, in an attempt to focus solely on the domestic violence case against her alleged ex-lover. 

”In light of Salim Akil’s disappointing though predictable denial of his actions, Amber Dixon Brenner has decided to place all of her focus on the State Court lawsuit of Domestic Violence and Breach of Implied Contract,” attorney Joseph Costa told The Blast on behalf of his client. “She is placing the Federal Copyright case on hold without prejudice to refile.”