"Empire" star Terrence Howard is facing assault charges after his ex-wife filed suit this week alleging that he savagely attacked her just over two years ago.

In a civil complaint filed in Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter notes Michelle Howard claims the attack took place while the then couple were staying in a rental house in Costa Rica in 2013. More specifically, Michelle alleges that on the evening of July 29, Terrence, who plays Lucious Lyon on "Empire," followed her into their residence and punched her in the face, before grabbing her by the neck, shoving her against a bathroom wall and strangling her for several seconds.

During the struggle, Michelle also alleges that Terrence whispered to her, "Remember what I told you in Bora Bora?" Michelle claims she took that taunt as a reference to Terrence's earlier threat "that her body would never leave the island."

That same evening, Michelle alleges Terrence again charged her, forcing her to pepper spray him in the face.

"Defendant continued swinging his arms and caused Plaintiff to fall down," the formal complaint further alleges. "While Plaintiff was on the ground, Defendant repeatedly mule-kicked Plaintiff in the head and shoulders."

Michelle's suit formally alleges she suffered assault and battery, as well as intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. In the same complaint, she also charges Terrence defamed her by falsely alleging that she made death threats toward him and his family on social media.

The incident hardly marks the first time Taraji P. Henson's costar on the smash hit Fox show has faced such accusations. In 2001, Terrence was arrested on charges of assaulting then wife Lori McCommas. In her 2011 divorce petition, Michelle also claimed he repeatedly threatened and hit her throughout their marriage.

In 2013, Michelle took out a restraining order against her ex on the strength of claims that include the Costa Rica allegations.

Previously, the 46-year-old Howard told The Reporter, "A lot of the things I did were the product of not knowing how to deal with frustration, not knowing who Terrence Howard is. I've grown so much from anything that's happened in the past."