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A new allegation has been lodged against veteran comedian Paul Mooney involving Richard Pryor, his son, Richard Pryor Jr. and his widow Jennifer Lee Pryor. In a recent interview with Comedy Hype, Rashon Kahn, Richard Pryor’s former bodyguard, in promotion of his memoir Everything Wasn’t Funny spoke about some of the darker moments working with Pryor, including the time the legendary comedian asked him to take a hit out on a fellow comedian and longtime collaboration Paul Mooney.
Kahn said that Pryor offered him $1 million for someone to murder Mooney for sexually violating his son. Kahn said that because of Pryor’s noted drug use, he waited a few days to confirm that the allegation was true. When Pryor was sober, he asked for the hit again.
Reports about the nature of the assault are muddled. Some claim that he slept with his son. Meanwhile, Pryor’s wife alleged that Pryor Jr. was a child at the time, which would have made the encounter rape.
“The relationship became fragile because Paul Mooney had f*cked Richard’s son by that time. He violated and that’s any man if you violate their children like that. Paul took advantage of the situation. From that point on, whatever Paul Mooney was to Richard— and there was a time that Paul Mooney was Richard’s friend. I acknowledge that. Which is why the gay community really couldn’t say anything, they attempted to about Richard. So when Paul did what he did, it was a violation of friendship first and then my son. And in some circles that’s supposed to be dealt with…Richard didn’t want him on the planet no more.”
When asked about Pryor Jr.’s age, Kahn said that his son was young at the time, he confirmed that he was “a little boy.”
Kahn said that he spoke to Pryor Jr. about the violation and told him what his father planned to do about it.
“And I remember letting Richard Jr. know, here’s how your father thought about it. Richard cried about it because he didn’t think his father knew…It’s not only a complete violation, it’s something that is prevalent amongst us that we sweep under the rug and pretend it’s not happening. You can not turn the slave thing off because it’s 2019.”
Jennifer Pryor, Richard Pryor’s widow, confirmed the story on Twitter, sharing that Pryor Jr. had said the same thing in her presence.
Paul Mooney has denied the allegations. In a statement from his publicist Cassandra Williams read, “there is no validity to Rashon Kahn’s statement as it relates to Mr. Paul Mooney.”
Pryor Jr., who is now 58, has yet to comment on the allegation.
You can listen to Kahn’s comments in the video below.
