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John Legend Served In Connection To L.A. Reid Alleged Sexual Assault Lawsuit

May 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

John Legend has found himself roped into the lawsuit against music executive L.A. Reid for alleged sexual assault. For those unaware, former Arista Records employee Drew Dixon accused her former boss of two instances of the crime via a suit filed in November of 2023 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act right before the statute of limitations for this extension ended. In an exclusive AllHipHop report, the latest development in this case is that, according to court documents the publication reportedly obtained, Dixon served John Legend with a notice of deposition, as authorities apparently listed him as a witness in a discovery status report filed on Wednesday (May 1) in New York.

“On April 30, 2024, Plaintiff served notices of depositions for the following witnesses: Nichelle Devaille (deposition set for May 7, 2024); Karen Kwak (May 20, 2024); Roy Lott (June 20, 2024); and John Stephens p/k/a John Legend (June 24, 2024),” the third discovery report supposedly read in this civil case. At press time, the singer hasn’t publicly responded to these claims, the lawsuit, or the notice. It’s unclear whether he will actually have to participate in this trial or if it’s just for some questions. Either way, it’s definitely an escalation.

L.A. Reid At The Black Music & Entertainment Walk Of Fame

John Legend LA Reid Sexual Assault Lawsuit Music News — L.A. Reid honors Usher at Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame on February 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Prince Williams/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

“Following the second sexual assault in Mr. Reid’s car, Ms. Dixon intensified her efforts to avoid Mr. Reid,” Drew Dixon’s attorneys shared in writing concerning the case against L.A. Reid’s alleged assault. “However, Mr. Reid persisted in trying to corner her alone by inviting her to meetings in his hotel room night after night. When Ms. Dixon resisted his efforts, Mr. Reid grew angry and increasingly hostile towards her, as well as to her artists, and her ideas. This was a drastic reversal from Mr. Reid’s enthusiasm about her creative taste and instincts over the years, and harm came from the fact that Mr. Reid would directly respond to Ms. Dixon’s rejection of his sexual advances by punishing the artists Ms. Dixon had already signed or by blocking the artists she attempted to sign. This included future superstars like Kanye West, John Legend and Toya.

Furthermore, Dixon accused L.A. Reid of sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress driven by intent, violence motivated by gender, and false imprisonment. Following a settlement conference in March, both parties have another scheduled for June 25. While Dixon’s legal team did not need more time to complete discovery, Reid’s did. “With regard to discovery as a whole, Defendant notes that this case presents unusual challenges given that it has been commenced more than two decades after the alleged wrongs,” his lawyers shared. “As a result, additional time has been and will be required to locate witnesses and documents, and Defendant anticipates that some witnesses and documents may ultimately be unavailable due to the passage of time.”

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Usher Rejected “Yeah!” Until L.A. Reid Threatened Him, Rico Love Claims

February 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Usher, like the true soulful superstar he is, doesn’t think that R&B is dead, but if he had gone with his gut back around 2003, he might not have been the king of the genre to make that belief have weight in the first place. Moreover, according to TMZ, producer Rico Love recently went to Home Grown Radio to talk about his big break writing for Usher’s 2004 album Confessions. In addition, he also gave an interesting claim about the backstory behind the smash hit “Yeah!” While it’s not a traditional R&B cut, it’s still one of the Dallas native’s biggest hits, one that Love claims he didn’t want to record at first.

Apparently, Rico Love was there when Usher first heard the demo for “Yeah!,” which Sean Garrett wrote. Initially, he did not like the song at all, and he rejected any advances to record the track for his then-upcoming 2004 project. The producer thought that it was a little cringe, and so did the Super Bowl’s upcoming halftime show performer. Not only that, but Love even said that the opening lines “Up in the club with my homies/ Tryin’ to get a little V.I./ Keep it down on the low-key” made him burst into laughter.

Rico Love Recalls L.A. Reid Allegedly Pressuring Usher To Put Out “Yeah!”: Watch

However, L.A. Reid had something else to say about “Yeah!” as a then-music executive and the President of Arista Records at the time. He thought the record sounded like true-blue hit, and staunchly suggested that Usher release it as the first single instead of “Burn.” Allegedly, as Rico Love recalled, he fought back against these pressures until Reid simply said “Do the f***ing song!” and hung up on him. In addition, he apparently also left the SKIMS collaborator no choice but to put the song out, through other means that weren’t just a phone call.

Meanwhile, we’re sure that he will be able to see the real love that people have for “Yeah!” during his upcoming tour. The 45-year-old surely has different thoughts on the track these days, now that hindsight is 20/20. It would be interesting to hear him respond to this claim, and look back on the choices he made that propelled him into music’s upper echelon. With that in mind, stay posted on HNHH for more news and the latest updates on Usher.

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L.A. Reid Passed On Signing Kanye West, John Legend, & More Out Of Spite, Lawsuit Claims

January 23, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drew Dixon, who is suing L.A. Reid for sexual assault, says the former CEO of Epic Records turned down signing Kanye West, John Legend, and more artists she suggested meeting with due to spite stemming from her rejection of his sexual advances. She explained the allegations in court documents obtained by AllHipHop.

“Following the second sexual assault in Mr. Reid’s car, Ms. Dixon intensified her efforts to avoid Mr. Reid,” Dixon’s lawyers explained. “However, Mr. Reid persisted in trying to corner her alone by inviting her to meetings in his hotel room night after night. When Ms. Dixon resisted his efforts, Mr. Reid grew angry and increasingly hostile towards her, as well as to her artists, and her ideas. This was a drastic reversal from Mr. Reid’s enthusiasm about her creative taste and instincts over the years, and harm came from the fact that Mr. Reid would directly respond to Ms. Dixon’s rejection of his sexual advances by punishing the artists Ms. Dixon had already signed or by blocking the artists she attempted to sign. This included future superstars like Kanye West, John Legend and Toya.”

L.A. Reid Speaks At Culture Creators Awards Brunch

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 23: L.A. Reid speaks onstage after receiving the Icon Honoree. Award at the Culture Creators Awards Brunch at The Beverly Hilton on June 23, 2022 in Beverly Hills. California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Culture Creators)

Overall, Dixon is accusing Reid of sexually assaulting her twice while they worked together at Arista Records. She cites sexual battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and gender-motivated violence. With the lawsuit, Dixon says the allegations are covered by New York’s Adult Survivors Act. “While Defendant’s first false imprisonment of Plaintiff took place in flight on his private plane, the acts that made this unlawful confinement possible took place in Manhattan within the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the Southern District of New York,” Dixon’s lawyers said.

They further argued: “As described in the Complaint … the planning, scheduling and booking for the Arista Records retreat was completed by Arista Records staff based in Manhattan at an address located in the Southern District of New York. Karen Kwak, the Manhattan-based administrator who deceived Ms. Dixon into believing she and Mr. Reid would be traveling to Puerto Rico with a group of executives, told her of this fake plan at the Arista Records office in Manhattan, which is located in the Southern District of New York. Thus, a substantial part of the acts associated with Mr. Reid’s first false imprisonment of Ms. Dixon occurred within the Southern District of New York—without which the confinement would not have been possible.” It’s unclear what Dixon is seeking in damages. Be on the lookout for further updates on L.A. Reid as well as Drew Dixon’s lawsuit on HotNewHipHop.

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Is Former Arista Records Chief Exec Drew Dixon A Serial Accuser Or Victim?

November 9, 2023 by newhiphopnews

L.A. Reid, co-founder of LaFace Records, is facing serious accusations of sexual assault and harassment. Former Arista Records chief executive, Drew Dixon, filed a lawsuit against Reid, claiming that he assaulted her twice in 2001. Due to the similarities in the accusations Dixon has posed upon Russell Simmons in the past, the lawsuit raises the […]

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L.A. Reid Sued By Former Employee For Alleged Sexual Assault: Report

November 9, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Antonio Marquis Reid, colloquially known as L.A., has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault in the past. Now, a former A&R at Arista Records, Drew Dixon, claims that she faced harassment and mistreatment at his hands back in the early 2000s- when he became the record company’s CEO and president- according to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone. Moreover, the music executive had left this same position at Epic Records back in 2017 due to other accusations of abuse from Dixon. He launched the careers of the likes of Usher, Avril Lavigne, TLC, Mariah Carey, and plenty of others. This new lawsuit, however, might finally bring about some accountability or clear his name altogether if it’s an untrue accusation.

Furthermore, Dixon filed a lawsuit against L.A. Reid in New York’s Southern District under the Adult Survivors Act. This provides a one-year window for assault victims to bring a civil suit forward past the statute of limitations’ expiration date. This particular window closes on November 24. Specifically, Dixon accused the record producer and acclaimed behind-the-scenes boss of constant harassment and two instances of sexual assault in 2001. During her initial claims in 2017, he released an apology statement for how his words were “misinterpreted.”

L.A. Reid At A Billboard Event

LA Reid Sexual Assault Lawsuit Former Employee Hip Hop News — LA Reid at Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live held at The Novo on August 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

“L.A. Reid is a known predator, who uses his singular professional power to force himself on his victims,” Dixon stated, Rolling Stone reports. “In my case, his persistent campaign of sexual harassment and assault forced me to abandon the work I loved. I was at the top of my game in the music business, having worked my way up from internships and a job as a receptionist.” She alleges that the two instances of assault in question were once on a private plane, and another in the back of his car.

Meanwhile, this follows Dixon’s own accusations of sexual assault against Russell Simmons while she was at Def Jam, which is what caused her to go to Arista in the first place. Overall, there are a lot of moving pieces here, and we’ll have to see if this ends up fully resolving if court. If not, then Dixon could face even more scrutiny and blockades in her career and the question of accountability will never truly be answered. For more news and the latest updates on L.A. Reid, come back to HNHH.

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