Issa Rae Faces Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Alleged Idea Theft for ‘One of Them Days’

Issa Rae is facing a legal battle after being accused of stealing the concept for her upcoming comedy One of Them Days. In a lawsuit filed on July 30, writers Joshua Isaacson, Shon Oku, and Tyrone Perry allege that Rae’s 2025 film, which stars Keke Palmer and SZA, closely resembles their 2020 script, One of Those Days.

The plaintiffs accuse Rae’s production company, ColorCreative, along with Sony Pictures, TriStar, and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton, of copyright infringement and idea theft.

According to the lawsuit, the character development, plot structure, and tone of One of Them Days bear striking similarities to the writers’ script, which they had pitched to a former producer of Rae’s HBO series Insecure.

Veteran screenwriter John Brancato, who reviewed both scripts, has reportedly found the similarities “substantial,” suggesting that the overlap is unlikely to be coincidental.

The writers began pitching their screenplay in late 2023, initially presenting it to producer Danny Hamouie, but did not receive a response. In April 2024, they submitted the script to producers Roman Arabia and Xavier Charles, founders of Green Eggs Go H.A.M., but the project was ultimately declined.

However, just weeks after this rejection, Rae’s production company announced One of Them Days, a comedy about two roommates racing through Los Angeles to gather rent money.

Directed by Lawrence Lamont and written by Singleton, the film premiered in January 2025, grossing more than $51 million at the box office on a $14 million budget.

The writers argue that the timing of Rae’s announcement, along with the connection between Charles and Rae (as a former producer on Insecure), makes the similarities too coincidental to ignore.

In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that Rae’s team misappropriated their original work and passed it off as their own, without credit or compensation.

The writers are seeking damages, legal fees, and a jury trial.