Actor and comedian Tiffany Haddish pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor alcohol-related driving charge stemming from a 2022 arrest in Georgia, avoiding additional jail time. She was sentenced to 12 months of probation and instructed to abstain from drugs and alcohol, and to complete a substance abuse evaluation. Haddish received credit for time already served following her arrest.
Her plea resolves a case initiated by a 911 call on Jan. 14, 2022. A caller reported a driver appearing to be asleep at the wheel of a white Ford Explorer stopped at a traffic light in Peachtree City, Georgia. An officer subsequently stopped Haddish as she entered a neighborhood, according to a police report.
Fayette County State Court Judge Jason Thompson rejected a May request from Haddish's lawyers to dismiss the case, which argued that the delay in resolution violated her right to a speedy trial. The judge noted that Haddish and her legal team had requested some of the delays, including for a fashion show in Morocco and to catch a flight. He also stated that no evidence was presented to show missed performance opportunities or financial harm due to the delays.
Haddish has had prior legal encounters. In November 2023, she was arrested in Beverly Hills, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence. In that case, she reached a plea deal in February 2024, pleading no contest to a vehicle code violation, with two misdemeanor DUI charges dropped, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Haddish's notable film credits include "Girls Trip" and "Night School." She is also the author of the New York Times best-selling book "The Last Black Unicorn." Her accolades include an Emmy Award in 2018 for her "Saturday Night Live" appearance and a Grammy Award in 2021 for her special "Black Mitzvah."