Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the late star of The Cosby Show, left behind more than $1.2 million in unpaid debts before to his passing, according to his wife, who has sued his mother. Tenisha Warner is suing Malcolm’s mother, Pamela Warner, who is presently a trustee of the Warner Family Trust, according to court records.
Tenisha claims that a few days prior to their wedding in May 2022, she and Malcolm signed a prenuptial agreement in which he promised to give her several financial perks. She asserts that prior to his death, he broke a number of those promises.
Tenisha claims that one of the potential violations is that Malcolm pledged to keep a $1 million life insurance policy with her as the only beneficiary, but he never acquired or kept the policy.
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In addition, the lawsuit claims that Malcolm neglected to pay her a monthly salary of $5,000 for working as his assistant and chief of staff during their marriage, contribute to a Roth IRA in her name, and make yearly tax-free payments of $16,000.
Including the $1 million life insurance policy, over $50,000 in yearly installments, $30,500 for the Roth IRA, and over $195,000 in outstanding income, the document states that the total unpaid commitments reach at least $1,276,042.46.
Tenisha is asking the court to permit her to get the funds from Malcolm’s family trust because she thinks his estate lacks sufficient assets to pay the purported obligation. In addition, she is requesting interest, legal expenses, and an injunction prohibiting Pamela from distributing any funds or assets from the trust while the action is pending.
On July 20, 2025, Malcolm drowned while on vacation in Costa Rica. He was fifty-four. The case was filed by Tenisha precisely one year after his passing.
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