US comedian Steve Harvey accused of torturing his ex-wife in $60m lawsuit

Family Feud host denies claims he inflicted 'severe mental pain' on Mary Harvey

Steve Harvey wrongly named Ariadna Gutierrez Miss Universe in 2015, later issuing several apologies

Steve Harvey, the US comedian and host of television show Family Feud, has been accused of torturing his ex-wife in a $60m (£46m) lawsuit.

The 60-year-old star allegedly carried out “prolonged torture" and inflicted "severe mental pain" on his former partner Mary Harvey - claims he "vehemently denies".

According to the lawsuit she attempted suicide after Mr Harvey acknowledged “a nine-year affair with a woman that produced a child”.

The claim, filed at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, states: “The Plaintiff was threatened, arrested and placed under gag order, to keep the information she knew from becoming public to protect the defendants [sic] public image.

“The intentional infliction of emotional distress went well beyond emotional anguish and concludes with anxiety, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances, ulcers and degenerative neurological disorders."

Mr Harvey's lawyer, Brandon Williams branded the case - alleging child endangerment, torture, kidnapping and other counts - “meritless” and “frivolous”.

He told SFGate: “Mr Harvey vehemently denies any allegations set forth in the lawsuit.

“The complaint is meritless, frivolous and the allegations are completely false. We will vigorously defend/counterclaim against the complaint.”

The stand-up comic rose to fame hosting The Steve Harvey Show and the Miss World pageant, where he announced the wrong winner in 2015.