Last week, Sheryl Lee Ralph, presently of Abbott Elementary fame, alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a “famous TV judge” at a business event many years ago. “I’m at a very public place. I was suited. I had my suit on. I was handling my business for the television show I was on at that time. He and I were on the same network,” she told Variety. “This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around and rammed his nasty ass tongue down my throat. And everybody at the network saw it.”

Ralph said that the network had asked her to stay silent to avoid bad press. She did not name the “famous judge,” but she did say that it was not Judge Greg Mathis. “I love him. He’s a great man,” she said.

I take it the pool of famous judges is relatively small because by the powers of deduction — and rumors spread on social media — Judge Joe Brown publicly put himself into this conversation by denying that it was him. No one asked, but go off, Judge Brown:

There’re false rumors being spread that I mistreated a certain lady ≈ 25 yrs ago

I categorically deny both those rumors & any acquaintance with the lady in question

— JudgeJoeBrown (@JudgeJoeBrownTV) March 25, 2023

I can see why I’m attacked

I smile easily & sleep soundly

Stand up for the people

Protect Womanhood/Childhood

Promote Manhood

Tell truth

Say it to power

Promote honesty/duty/honor/obligation/accountability/bravery/courage

Deliver Justice/Equity/Fairness/Objectivity

etc

— JudgeJoeBrown (@JudgeJoeBrownTV) March 27, 2023

Some on social media surmised that it could have been Judge Joe Brown that Sheryl Lee Ralph was talking about because both Ralph’s show in the 90s Moesha and Judge Joe Brown’s show were produced by the same CBS production company.

In an interview, Judge Brown also added, “So far, [Sheryl Lee Ralph] hasn’t said anything that implicates me [but] the fact of the matter is I don’t know this woman, never met this woman, certainly haven’t had any kind of contact with her.”

If he’s never met the woman, he has nothing to be worried about, so he doesn’t need to threaten legal action. She didn’t name him. He’s never met her. Case closed!

I might add, however, that Sheryl Lee Ralph has not yet said anything to deny that it was Judge Brown on Twitter, although she did post a picture of her son, and wow! I hope he can take advantage of his nepo baby status.

That’s my son! pic.twitter.com/FpmFrqZkO5

— sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) March 28, 2023