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NBCUniversal has filed a $35.8 million lawsuit against Group Black, the media company co-founded by entrepreneur Richelieu Dennis, accusing it of failing to pay money tied to a Peacock advertising sales partnership.
The case centers on a deal that gave Group Black exclusive rights to sell advertising tied to Black led content on Peacock. NBCUniversal says Group Black owed unpaid invoices and guaranteed payments under the agreement and failed to meet its obligations.
Group Black has disputed the claims and said it plans to respond through the legal process.
The lawsuit puts fresh pressure on a company that was launched in 2021 with a high profile mission to direct more corporate advertising spending to Black owned and Black led media businesses. Group Black was co founded by Dennis, Bonin Bough and Travis Montaque during a period when major brands publicly pledged more support for Black media and creators.
Dennis is best known as the founder of Sundial Brands and as the businessman behind Essence Ventures. His name has remained closely tied to Group Black even as the company went through leadership changes, internal disputes and a broader strategic reset.
According to the allegations, the Peacock partnership began in September 2023 and ended in September 2025. NBCUniversal claims Group Black sold more than $30 million in advertising through the arrangement but did not pass along required payments.
The dispute is significant because the Peacock deal was a major commercial test of Group Black’s model. The company was built around the idea that scale and collective bargaining power could help Black media groups win larger advertising commitments from top brands and major platforms.
Recent years have been difficult for that strategy. Group Black has faced public disagreements among founders, vendor payment disputes and legal claims over money management. The company has also tried to reposition itself, including a rebranding effort and a push into new media and technology services.
Dennis has also been linked to separate governance tensions around the business, as debates over spending, leadership and fiduciary duties spilled into court filings and public statements. Those issues are not the focus of NBCUniversal’s lawsuit, but they form the backdrop to the latest legal fight.
The case now moves into court, where NBCUniversal will need to prove its claims and Group Black will have a chance to challenge them.
