Sean Penn Sues Lee Daniels -- I DON'T Hit Women

Sean Penn has sued Lee Daniels for $10 million, claiming the "Empire" creator dragged him through the mud and accused him of hitting women, just to make Terrence Howard look better.

Daniels did an interview in which he said, "[Terrence] ain't done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he's some f***in' demon.... That's a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America."

Penn claims in his lawsuit Daniels' comments were "reckless and malicious" and Sean has falsely "for years been the subject of scandalous, scurrilous, and baseless attacks."

Penn has been caught on video attacking paparazzi and prosecuted for it. As for women, there have been numerous reports that he allegedly brutalized Madonna in the late '80s, and numerous publications reported he was charged and convicted. We did some checking, and it appears the story about being charged and convicted is incorrect ... he was never charged.

Penn says in the lawsuit, "Daniels' defense of Howard (and his improper invocation of two of the greatest actors and humanitarians of our time, Brando and Penn, in doing so) is apparently part of a misguided campaign to profit and further bolster and brand his show 'Empire.'"

Penn is suing Daniels for $10 million.