OWN Cancels ‘Love Is ___’ Following Allegations of Abuse


"Love Is ___" the OWN drama from husband-and-wife producing duo Mara and Salim Akil has been canceled according to Variety.

Last month, a former partner accused Salim Akil of domestic abuse in a federal lawsuit. Amber Dixon Brenner alleges she began a sexual relationship with Akil 10 years ago, and he inflicted physical and emotional distress.
via Variety:

The lawsuit accused Akil of on multiple occasions slapping or otherwise physically assaulting Dixon Brenner and forcing her to perform sex acts with him. The suit also alleged that on one such occasion, Akil urinated in her mouth. In another alleged incident, the suit stated Akil took Dixon Brenner to a parking garage, forced her to lick one of its walls, and photographed her without her knowledge.

The show had been renewed and was, reportedly, in pre-production, but it will not move forward because "that narrative was viewed as having been compromised."

Mara Brock married Salim Akil in 1999.