THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997             TAG: 9701090493
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 
COLUMN: PEOPLE 
                                            LENGTH:   27 lines

LAWRENCE SAYS HE DIDN'T HARASS ``MARTIN'' CO-STAR

Martin Lawrence denies that he sexually harassed his ``Martin'' co-star Tisha Campbell, who has left the show and sued him.

The comedian ``regrets that he is being used as a pawn in a contract dispute'' between Campbell and HBO Independent Productions, which produces the sitcom for Fox, according to a statement from his publicist Tuesday.

``Martin has long been Tisha's champion and protector, and is thus deeply hurt by these allegations. There is no merit to the lawsuit and it will vigorously be defended,'' the statement said.

Campbell, who played Martin's wife, Gina, on the show, last appeared on the set Nov. 22. Her lawsuit, filed last month in federal court, claims that Lawrence sexually harassed and sexually battered her, making conditions on the set ``intolerable.'' Specific damages Campbell was seeking in the lawsuit weren't immediately available.

Lawrence filed for divorce in September from his wife, former Miss Virginia-USA Patricia Southall of Chesapeake. ILLUSTRATION: Martin Lawrence