When you see Terry Crews, you see a powerhouse. He's a former NFL linebacker, a man who literally flexes his pectorals for a living, and the guy who played the indomitable Terry Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is the definition of "tough." So, when he came forward in late 2017 to say he had been groped at a high-end Hollywood party, the world stopped. People couldn't wrap their heads around it. They asked: who sexually assaulted Terry Crews? How does a guy that big, that famous, and that strong get targeted in a room full of people?
The answer is a man named Adam Venit.
At the time, Venit wasn't just some random guy. He was the head of the motion picture department at William Morris Endeavor (WME). In Hollywood terms, he was one of the most powerful gatekeepers in existence. He represented stars like Adam Sandler, Diane Keaton, and Sylvester Stallone. He held the keys to careers. And that, as Crews would later explain to the U.S. Senate, is exactly why it happened.
The Incident at the 2016 Party
It was February 2016. Crews was at a party with his wife, Rebecca King-Crews. They were there to celebrate Adam Sandler. Honestly, it was supposed to be a standard industry night—networking, drinks, the usual Hollywood shuffle.
Crews says he didn't even know Adam Venit. They had never spoken. But according to Crews’ later testimony and various interviews, Venit spent a good portion of the night staring at him. He was reportedly sticking his tongue out in a "provocative" way—Crews described it as looking like a "rabid dog."
It sounds bizarre, right? Like some weird, dark comedy bit. But it turned serious fast. When Crews went to shake Venit's hand, Venit didn't reach for his palm. Instead, he reached down and viciously grabbed and squeezed Crews’ genitals.
Crews pushed him back. He yelled. He asked what the hell he was doing. Venit just laughed. He giggled. He looked at Crews with a look that said, "I own you." Even after being pushed away, Crews says Venit came back for more, trying to touch him again.
💡 You might also like: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Why didn't he fight back?
This is the question every internet tough guy asked. "If I were Terry Crews, I would’ve knocked him out."
Crews addressed this head-on. He’s a Black man in America. He’s 240 pounds of pure muscle. He knew that if he laid a finger on a powerful white executive in a room full of celebrities, the headline the next day wouldn't be "Actor defends himself." It would be "Thug attacks Hollywood executive." He stayed his hand to protect his family and his career, but he says the restraint cost him a piece of his soul that night.
The Fallout and the WME Lawsuit
For a year, Terry Crews kept quiet. He saw what happened to people who spoke up. Then the Harvey Weinstein story broke in October 2017. The dam burst. Crews took to Twitter and shared his story, though he didn't name Venit immediately.
When he finally did name him, the industry shook. Venit was suspended from WME for a month. Just 30 days. He eventually returned to work, though he was demoted from his position as head of the motion picture department.
Crews wasn't having it. He filed a police report and a civil lawsuit against both Venit and WME. He alleged sexual assault and battery. He also alleged that WME had a corporate culture that allowed this kind of "predatory" behavior to slide.
The Legal Roadblocks
The legal system isn't always built for survivors, even ones who can bench press 400 pounds.
📖 Related: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
- The District Attorney: The L.A. County D.A. declined to file felony charges because they didn't believe the incident met the threshold for a felony.
- The City Attorney: They looked at misdemeanor charges, but by the time Crews felt safe enough to come forward, the statute of limitations had already run out.
Basically, the clock had ticked too long.
Eventually, in September 2018, Crews and Venit settled the lawsuit. The terms were confidential, but Crews tweeted one word following the announcement: "ACCOUNTABILITY." Shortly after the settlement, Adam Venit announced his retirement from WME. He walked away from the industry he had dominated for decades.
Retaliation and The Expendables
If you're wondering why Crews isn't in The Expendables 4, look no further than this case.
During his 2018 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Crews revealed that the producer of the franchise, Avi Lerner, called his manager. The message was simple: drop the lawsuit against Adam Venit, or you're out of the movie.
Crews’ response? He walked.
He chose his dignity over a paycheck. He pointed out the irony that Lerner himself was facing his own sexual harassment investigation at the time. "Abusers protect abusers," Crews told the senators. It was a mic-drop moment that highlighted how deep the "boys' club" mentality goes in film production.
👉 See also: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Why This Case Actually Matters
Most people think sexual assault is about sex. It’s not. It’s about power.
Terry Crews being the victim proves that. No one is "too big" to be a victim because the assault isn't an attempt to get laid; it's an attempt to show someone that they are beneath you. By coming forward, Crews gave a voice to male survivors who often feel too ashamed or "unmanly" to speak up.
He challenged the idea of toxic masculinity—the notion that a "real man" should be able to prevent these things or that he should just "laugh it off."
Practical Takeaways for Supporters and Survivors
If you've been following this story and wondering how to apply these lessons to the real world, here’s what the Crews case taught us:
- Documentation is everything. Even if you aren't ready to report, write down the date, time, location, and witnesses. Crews had his wife as a witness, which was crucial.
- The "Why didn't you speak up sooner?" argument is junk. There are massive financial and social barriers to reporting. Understanding this helps us be better allies.
- Power dynamics are the root cause. Whether it's a boss, a recruiter, or a "high-level executive," the person with the power to end your career is often the one who feels entitled to cross your boundaries.
- Accountability looks different for everyone. For Crews, it wasn't a prison sentence—it was a public naming, a lawsuit, and forcing a powerful man into retirement.
Adam Venit may have left Hollywood, but the conversation Terry Crews started is still very much alive. It’s a reminder that strength isn't just about what you can lift in the gym; it's about the courage to tell the truth when the world expects you to stay silent.