Jackass star Bam Margera is suing the film studio behind the upcoming Jackass Forever film, claiming ‘abusive treatment’ due to his addiction and mental health struggles

Jackass star Bam Margera is suing the film studio behind the upcoming Jackass Forever film, according to reports.

The TV regular is accusing Paramount Pictures and his co-star and former friend Johnny Knoxville of “abusive treatment”.

In a lawsuit filed with the LA Superior court Monday, Bam accused Paramount Pictures, MTV, film director Jeffrey Tremaine, and a string of producers including Knoxville and Spike Jonze, of trying to steal the rights to the franchise without compensating him.

Margera was let go from the film in February after he allegedly broke his contract due to his erratic behaviour and the failure of a drugs test.

He says he suffers from physical and mental disabilities and that his termination from the film amounts to illegal discrimination.

Margera says he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder, admits to a history of abusing alcohol and says he’s been in and out of rehab since 2009.

The lawsuit states Margera wants to “to seek redress for Defendants’ inhumane, abusive and discriminatory treatment” of him and for wrongful termination from the franchise.

Margera is seeking millions in compensation and damages and wants an injunction to prevent the film’s release in October, according to The Sun.

The suit says that in March last year, Paramount executed a contract with Bam for a fourth Jackass film., but they added a condition insisting on Margera’s adherence to a “Wellness Agreement.”

The agreement had obligated Margera to complete multiple drugs tests a day, both scheduled and unscheduled, requests for which could come in at any hour of the day or night, the suit says.

He claims he also had to blow into a breathalyser three times a day, submit to a urinalysis twice a week, have his hair follicles tested on a regular basis, and take pills every morning while on a FaceTime call with a doctor hired by Paramount.

Margera said the pills left him “physically and mentally drained, depressed, and a shell of his former self.”

He claims that while he was in a rehab facility in 2019, Jonze (his producer) and Knoxville (his co-star), “accosted him and coerced him into signing the draconian Wellness Agreement”, according to the suit.

He was told that if he did not sign the contract then and there, he would be cut from all future Jackass films, he claims.

The suit states that this would cut off Margera’s primary income, and sole means of supporting his family, giving him no choice but to sign the contract.

By the time Paramount terminated his contract, citing a violation of the Wellness Agreement, he says he had put a lot of work into the movie, including filming scenes and developing ideas.

Margera says he did not slip up but the agreement exacerbated his mental health issues and led to suicidal thoughts.

He persevered only to have “the rug pulled out from under him,” the lawsuit claimed.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Margera was ousted after “one of the numerous drug tests Margera was forced to submit to demonstrated that he was taking prescription Adderall.

“Defendants knew full well that Margera had to take Adderall to treat his attention deficit disorder. He had been on this medication for several years. But all of this notwithstanding, and without even giving Margera an opportunity to explain, Paramount fired him.”

George said Margera’s treatment couldn’t be “tolerated”.

The suit claims the alleged actions taken by producers against Margera were a violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, an unlawful retaliation and a wrongful discharge in violation of public policy.

In the suit Margera also takes credit for creating Jackass, which has been credited to Tremaine, Knoxville and Jonze.

He says much of the original footage from the first MTV season traces back to his CKY Crew, before the others came on board, claiming that Jackass would have been “impossible” without him.

George said: “He was made to endure psychological torture in the form of a sham ‘Wellness Agreement,’ and then ultimately terminated for his protected class status due to his medical condition, and his complaints about Defendants’ discriminatory conduct towards him.

“While Margera has given Jackass – quite literally – more than two decades worth of his blood, sweat and tears, the defendants have not repaid him in kind.”

George added: “Rather, Margera, who has a documented history of mental health issues, including diagnosed bipolar disorder, has been the victim of unconscionable discrimination at the hands of defendants.”

The Mirror has contacted reps for Bam Margera, Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze and Paramount Pictures for comment.

In May, Knoxville told GQ : “We want Bam to be happy and healthy and get the help he needs. We tried to push that along. I think that’s all I really want to say about it.”