Nelly has had a lot on his plate for the past few months. In August, he and his fiancée Ashanti welcomed their first child together. Shortly before that, he was arrested at a casino in Missouri. He was accused of ecstasy possession, which his attorney vehemently denied on his behalf. Now, according to new court documents obtained by AllHipHop, he’s been hit with a $50 million lawsuit.
The lawsuit in question was reportedly filed by his former St. Lunatics groupmates Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud earlier this week. They accuse Nelly of copyright infringement and unjust enrichment. Allegedly, they didn’t receive proper credit or compensation for their contributions to Country Grammar, Nelly’s 2000 debut studio album.
Four Former St. Lunatics Members Accuse Nelly Of Copyright Infringement And Unjust Enrichment
Nelly attends the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 01, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
They accuse Nelly of falsely and fraudulently claiming to be the sole author of various tracks he allegedly created with St. Lunatics. These include “Batter Up,” “Thicky Thick Girl,” and “Steal The Show.” In their lawsuit, they also allege that Nelly promised to give them credit and compensation for their contributions. According to them, they figured out that he was allegedly not telling the truth several years later in 2020.
“Despite repeated assurances by defendant Haynes that plaintiffs would receive their writing credit and publishing income for creating the Original Compositions, plaintiffs, sometime in 2020, eventually discovered that defendant Haynes had been lying to them the entire time,” the lawsuit reads. “Plaintiffs eventually discovered that not only did they not receive any credit as authors and/or creators of the Original Compositions, but that defendant Haynes, and others, took full credit for creating the Original Compositions contained in the Infringing Album.” What do you think of Nelly getting sued by his former St. Lunatics groupmates? Are you surprised by this or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Earlier this year, Lifetime unveiled their controversial docuseries, Where Is Wendy Williams? The doc puts some of the beloved former talk show host’s most vulnerable moments on display, including her opening up about mental health issues. This resulted in mixed reactions among viewers. While some thought it was informative to showcase Williams’ struggles, others began to accuse producers of exploiting her. This was only compounded when it was revealed that she was diagnosed with dementia and aphasia.
Now, according to PEOPLE, Williams’ guardian Sabrina Morrissey has filed a lawsuit against A&E Television Networks and its executive producer. Reportedly, she accuses them of “humiliating and exploiting” Williams for money. Morrissey alleges that they’ve made “millions off Wendy’s back,” while only paying her $82K for her participation.
In the suit, Morrissey also alleges that the crew “kept filming, trolling for the most embarrassing and shocking footage to titillate and sell to their audiences.” Williams’ team is asking that A&E cover Williams’ medical expenses and supervision for the rest of her life. The lawsuit comes after Creature Films executive producer Mark Ford spoke with PEOPLE about the doc in February.
“There was a guardianship in place the entire time we were filming with Wendy that was court-appointed to oversee her finances and her medical care. So I think the larger question here is about what can happen to someone under a legal guardianship if the family is separated from them and there isn’t somebody there on a daily basis checking in on their well-being,” he said at the time. “Wendy’s attorneys and the guardianship attorneys were consulted and signed off on the project.” What do you think of Wendy Williams’ guardian filing a lawsuit against A&E Television Networks and its executive producer earlier this year? What about them accusing the network of exploiting her? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Diddy is currently behind bars at the infamous Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after he and his legal team unsuccessfully argued that he should get out on bail at his arraignment on Tuesday. One key part of the prosecution’s case against letting him back onto the street was concerns that he might attempt to contact alleged victims and witnesses, according to Rolling Stone. They referenced the Bad Boy mogul allegedly blowing up his Dirty Money bandmate Kalenna Harper’s cellphone after the group’s other member, Dawn Richard, accused him of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, fraud, and more in a lawsuit. The state claims he contacted Harper 128 times through calls and texts over the course of just four days.
Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson argued in the courtroom: “Witnesses have universally expressed fear of the defendant.” Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, had offered to pay $50 million for bail and said that his client would remain on house arrest in Miami with constant surveillance. Judge Robyn Tarnofsky wasn’t impressed by the offer. “This is a crime that happens behind closed doors, even when pretrial services is monitoring,” she ruled, as caught by CNN.
Diddy & Dawn Richard Perform Together On “Good Morning America”
NEW YORK – JUNE 04: Recording artist Dawn Richard and Diddy perform on A.B.C.’s “Good Morning America” at Rumsey Playfield. Central Park on June 4, 2010, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/WireImage)
Agnifilo still intends to appeal the ruling, telling reporters outside of the courtroom: “He’s going to clear his name and we’re going to stand by his side as he does. We believe in him wholeheartedly. He came here to turn himself in. Why doesn’t the government want him to turn himself in? Because then they can’t ask for detention. All we can do is show good faith. He got on a plane and he came here. They arrested a guy who came here to turn himself in.”
Diddy’s attorneys have also sent a letter to the judge labeling the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn “horrific.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Diddy on HotNewHipHop.
Yesterday, the owner of the mansion in the music video for Cardi B’s “Like What (Freestyle)”filed a lawsuit against her and Offset. According to the documents, he alleges that the then couple were requesting to use the home anonymously. Instead of saying they were looking to film a music video, he claims that the MC’s reps were inquiring about a TikTok video. Because of this, the homeowner waived the fee. Overall, he’s stating they knew it was going to be pricey and they were going to do anything and everything to avoid paying. Previously, Justin Bieber and Logan Paul rented out the luxe Beverly Hills pad for its services. Now, he’s seeking $35,000 or more in damages from the now divorced couple.
It was only a matter of time before either Cardi or Offset was going to respond, and today it’s the former doing so. According to HipHopDX, she took to X (formerly Twitter) and clearly, she’s pretty ticked off about it. Throughout her tweet, the mother of three provides what she claims really happened, saying that cameras were all over the property, her and Set paid up front, and that realtors and the owner were present during filming. “We paid those people $10,000 IN CASH to rent the property for a whole 24 hours that same day 6am to 6am the next morning”, she begins. “And we went over by ONE hour which we paid overage fees to the realtor for in March”.
We paid those people $10,000 IN CASH to rent the property for a whole 24 hours that same day 6am to 6am the next morning and we went over by ONE hour which we paid overage fees to the realtor for in March. There was cameras all over and both the realtors and the owners was there… pic.twitter.com/qu8KogsZzs
Above she shows that proof, in addition to text messages with Offset about the payment. She then continues, “There was cameras all over and both the realtors and the owners was there the ENTIRE time… I got pics and videos of them on set!! Now they wanna finesse us trying to say we told them it was a TikTok video when that was nowhere in the contract and like they didn’t hear the whole song playing and see how long we was shooting…. Why would it take us 24 hours to shoot a TikTok?”. Before signing off, Cardi made sure to give the owner a fair warning, “The problem is people wanna find loopholes and get over but IRON YOUR BEST SUIT B**** I’ll see you in court!!!!”.
What are your thoughts on Cardi B’s response to the mansion lawsuit? Do you think her and Offset are going to avoid paying $35,000 or more? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Cardi B and Offset. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty never seem to make headlines for the right reasons. Minaj continues to be one of the most successful rappers in the world. Whenever Minaj’s husband gets involved, though, the results are complicated at best. The trend continued on September 17. Minaj and Petty were put on blast by a security guard who claimed they assaulted him. The guard won a settlement against the couple, but is now claiming that Nicki Minaj and Petty have yet to pay up.
The incident dates back to 2022. Thomas Weidenmuller, the security guard in question, filed a complaint against Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty in January. He claimed that he got into an argument with Minaj due to the way she was treating a female staff member. Weidenmuller then alleges that the rapper threw one of her shoes at him. The security guard says things only got worse from there. Kenneth Petty allegedly attacked Weidenmuller at the urging of his wife. The security guard initially sought $700K in damages. He agreed, however, to $500K as a default judgement when the celebrity couple failed to respond to the suit.
Weidenmuller may have gotten a court ruling in his favor, but Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty have not cooperated. The Jasmine Brand reports that the couple are allegedly dodging the $500K settlement they have been ordered to pay. Weidenmuller has waited for Minaj and Petty to make good, but he has decided to file a memo highlighting their alleged dodging. The security guard filed both a memo of costs and a writ of execution against the couple in September. These filings have increased the amount that Minaj and Petty will ultimately have to pay. Prior to the filings, they owed $503,318. After, they owe an increased total of $526,110.74.
Ironically, Nicki Minaj recently made headlines for allegedly being owed money. The rapper took to the comment section of a DJ Akademiks TikTok to put JAY-Z on blast for his Tidal dealings. Minaj was one of the superstars who signed on to be a partial owner of Tidal in 2015. She claimed that she was never paid a cent, though. “I didn’t even get one red penny,” Nicki Minaj announced. “No one promoted it more than me outside of Beyonce. Lol chi.”
Cardi B and Offset are being named in a brand-new lawsuit, according to TMZ. This is stemming from one of the handful of singles that the former has put out this year, “Like What (Freestyle)”. At the time, the on and off hip-hop couple were on, and the former Migos member was supporting her vision for the track. He is the credited director for the single’s music video, which is why both are facing this legal issue right now. The majority of the visuals were taken at a luxurious and modern mansion Beverly Hills, California.
There was a rental fee, but allegedly, Cardi B and Offset never forked over the money. In fact, the plaintiff, which is the owner of the property, claims they didn’t because they knew it was expensive. Knowing that, the rapper’s representatives allegedly contacted the homeowner and said that a random client was trying to film a TikTok video. Due to that lie, he wiped away the rental fee.
Cardi B & Offset Will Play Couple In Court For Lawsuit
Now, he’s looking to receive upwards of $35,000 in damages for the supposed deceit. TMZ did reach out to Cardi and Offset’s team, however, they haven’t heard back. Since the music video was uploaded to YouTube about six months ago, it’s received a lot of traction. At the time of writing, it has over 27 million views.
What are your thoughts on Cardi B and Offset receiving a lawsuit for not paying to use a mansion for an old music video? Do you think the owner will come away with the win in court? Whose side are you currently on based on the information available? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Cardi B and Offset. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Earlier this week, Diddy was hit with another lawsuit, this time from Diddy-Dirty Money member Dawn Richard. She accuses the Bad Boy Records founder of sexual and emotional abuse, as well as assaulting his ex Cassie in front of her. In the suit, she alleges that she and Kalenna Harper witnessed him abuse Cassie on multiple occasions. Harper, on the other hand, denies this.
In a statement posted on her Instagram story today, Harper addresses the lawsuit. She says that some of Richard’s allegations don’t reflect her own experiences. “While I fully respect Dawn’s right to recount her experiences, I want to emphasize that her account reflects her personal perspective and should not be interpreted as a universal truth applicable to everyone involved,” the statement reads.
Kalenna Harper Responds To Dawn Richard’s Lawsuit Against Diddy
(L-R) Dawn Richard, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, and Kalenna Harper of Diddy-Dirty Money attend the 2011 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage).
“Many of the allegations and incidents described in this suit are not representative of my experiences,” it continues. “And some do not align with my own truth.” Harper went on to add that she herself doesn’t recall witnessing “any behavior that could be considered abusive or unlawful.” Harper’s statement arrives only a few months after she defended Diddy in Rolling Stone‘s piece about his legal saga.
“Singer-songwriter Kalenna Harper says one of the highs of her life was joining Combs’ Diddy-Dirty Money group in 2009,” the outlet wrote. “‘He was f**king cool as sh*t,’ she says, adding that artists who blame Combs for the trajectory of their careers may suffer from ‘disgruntled employee syndrome.’” What do you think of Kalenna Harper claiming that some of the allegations in Dawn Richard’s lawsuit against Diddy don’t align with her own experiences? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
While T.I. and Tiny are encountering some legal wins here and there, they still have to put in more work when it comes to other lawsuits. One of these is a 2021 filing from Sabrina Peterson accusing them of defamation after they denied her accusations of threats and sexual abuse. However, an appeals court dismissed various allegations in June of 2023: trade libel, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, and intentionally negligent tampering with prospective economic advantage. Still, the court did let Peterson continue her pursuit of accountability when it comes to her claims of defamation and false light invasion of privacy.
Now, T.I. and Tiny are asking the judge to dismiss Peterson’s remaining accusations due to how she allegedly disobeyed a court order. Per supposed court documents reportedly obtained by In Touch Weekly, the two posited that she hasn’t paid them around $96,000 in legal fees that she owes them, which they think is on purpose. Sadly, this isn’t the end of the couple’s recent legal battles, although other recent events have seemingly wrapped up with ease. For example, it looks like Tip won’t have to face much further headache over his Atlanta airport arrest in what might’ve been a case of mistaken identity.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 09: T.I. and Tiny attend Rip Micheals’ April Fools Comedy Jam at Barclays Center on April 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)
Back to this case with T.I., Tiny, and Sabrina Peterson, though: here’s what the duo’s lawyer Andrew Brettler apparently wrote. “She has willfully violated a court order,” the reported court documents supposedly read. “And, while wasting judicial resources, she forced [T.I. and Tiny] to incur significant legal fees defending a litany of claims, most have which have already been thrown out.” “[Peterson] and her attorneys took advantage of the legal system by filing a ‘kitchen sink’ complaint, hoping that the nature of their allegations would attract enough media attention, which would then, in turn, put pressure on [T.I. and Tiny] to settle,” the attorney added. “[Peterson] and her lawyers never had any intention of diligently prosecuting this case.”
Furthermore, this ordered payment comes from an additional October judgement. The judge said that Peterson must cough up around $96,000 after the court dismissed more claims. T.I. and Tiny claim that Peterson boasted on social media about not paying the couple by her due date of January 15. Not only did they argue that their legal battles couldn’t continue until this ordered payment comes through, but they also accused Peterson of abusing the court system by trying to pressure a settlement. They now await a judgement on this motion to dismiss, and continually deny any accusations of defaming Peterson.
Recently, Diddy was hit with yet another lawsuit, this time from former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard. In the suit, obtained by TMZ, she accuses the Bad Boy Records founder of sexual and emotional abuse. She additionally accuses Diddy of belittling her and various female “Making The Band” contestants. Richard even alleges that she witnessed Diddy abuse his ex-girlfriend Cassie on multiple occasions. On one occasion, she alleges that he threw Cassie into a wall, choked her, and dragged her up a flight of stairs.
Richard says she and others had a conversation with Cassie, during which they encouraged her to leave Diddy. Allegedly, he later found out about the conversation and quickly threatened to end their careers. She also accuses Diddy of touching her inappropriately, inviting her to his home while only wearing underwear, and more.
attends the 2010 BET Awards nominees, host and performers announcement at 230 Fifth Avenue on May 18, 2010 in New York City.
Today, Diddy’s attorney Erica Wolff issued a response to the lawsuit, denying the allegations. “Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour,” the statement begins per TMZ.
“If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on ‘The Love Album’ last year,” it also reads. “It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court.” What do you think of Dawn Richard suing Diddy? What do you think of Diddy’s attorney’s response? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing the worst chapter of his existence as a mogul. Just a few days after a Michigan man won a $100M default judgment against Diddy, he’s now facing the wrath of former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard, who has come forward with disturbing allegations. Richard, according to court documents obtained by TMZ, detailed a pattern of emotional manipulation, abuse, and violent behavior at the hands of Diddy, not only against herself but his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, as well.
Sean “Diddy” Combs (3rd from Left) and the “Making the Band 3” Girls – Dawn, Aundrea, Aubrey O’Day, Tiffany and Shannon (Photo by Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic)
According to TMZ, Dawn Richard claims her ordeal began in 2004 when she appeared on Diddy’s MTV show Making The Band. She alleges that Diddy manipulated her by promising to advance her music career in exchange for compliance with his erratic and demeaning demands. Richard recounts how Diddy regularly humiliated female contestants, calling them derogatory names like “fat,” “ugly,” “bitches,” and “hoes.” Turning a dream into a nightmare, she claims Diddy targeted her specifically due to her excitement at working with him. The alleged manipulation extended beyond just verbal abuse. Richard’s lawsuit suggests that Diddy used his power and influence to keep her in line, creating an uneven dynamic that held her future in the industry dependent on her willingness to endure his behavior.
Witnessing The Abuse Of Cassie
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 27: Cassie (L) and recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
One of the most shocking aspects of Dawn Richard’s lawsuit involves her eyewitness accounts of Diddy’s alleged physical abuse of his ex-girlfriend, Cassie. According to TMZ, Richard says that in 2005, she saw another of Diddy’s former partners, Kim Porter, leaving a music studio with visible injuries. This incident, she claims, was the first red flag indicating that Diddy would leverage physical violence if needed.
Things escalated when, in 2009, Richard claims she personally witnessed Diddy violently assault Cassie at his Los Angeles home. Allegedly high on drugs, Diddy reportedly hurled Cassie against a wall, choked her, and dragged her up a flight of stairs. Similarly, she claims that in another situation, Diddy allegedly punched Cassie in the face and attempted to strangle her. Richard also recounts a separate incident where Diddy hurled a hot pan of eggs at Cassie in a fit of rage while shouting, “I’ve been asking you for my s**t; I can’t stand you bitch, you never do it right!”
NEW YORK – JUNE 14: (U.S. TABS OUT) (L-R) Andrea Fimbres, Dawn Richard, Wanita “D’Woods” Woodgett Aubrey O’Day and Shannon Bex of the group Danity Kane pose backstage during MTV’s Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on June 14, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
In addition to witnessing the abuse, Richard claims that Diddy took extreme measures to keep those around him silent. TMZ reports that Richard and other associates, including Kalenna Harper, her Diddy-Dirty Money bandmate, tried to convince Cassie to leave Diddy. However, once he found out about the conversation, it allegedly prompted an intense response. Richard alleges that Diddy threatened them, saying, “Y’all bitches don’t get in my relationship” and “Don’t tell my bitch [Cassie] what she need to be doing … Just make money and shut the f**k up … I end artists … I shelve careers … You could be missing … You bitches want to die today.”
This climate of fear, which has been a common theme among the lawsuits filed against him recently by former associates and employees, allegedly extended to Richard herself. Diddy reportedly manipulated those closest to him into submission by using his power and threats to derail their careers if they spoke out against him.
Richard’s Personal Experiences Of Abuse
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Dawn Richard speaks during an interview for Day 3 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Though much of the lawsuit surrounds the alleged heinous acts that Richard witnessed, she also details her own experience of abuse at Diddy’s hands. The TMZ report says she claims that Diddy subjected her to grueling work conditions. She alleged that he forced her to rehearse for up to 48 hours without rest. The constant strain led to severe physical issues, including dehydration, fatigue, and extreme weight loss. She also recalls a disturbing encounter at Diddy’s Miami home, where he allegedly demanded that she come over while he wore nothing but his underwear. “This is my f**king house!” he allegedly responded after she requested that he clothe himself.
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 22: Dawn Richards (L) and P Diddy attend the Dior Homme fashion show as part of Paris Menswear Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011-2012 on January 22, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images)
The abuse escalated further between 2009 and 2011, according to the suit. Richard alleges that, while naked, Diddy entered her dressing room and inappropriately touched her breasts and butt. Another alarming incident detailed in the lawsuit claims that Diddy locked her inside of a car with heavily tinted windows for two hours. She claims that she screamed for help and at one point, even tried calling her father. Richard alleges that her dad traveled to New York from Baltimore to confront Diddy and try to free her but the mogul allegedly issued not-so-subtle threats to him. Once he threatened to take the matters to the authorities, Diddy reportedly responded, “Think about your daughter” and “think about your daughter’s career.”
Conclusion
We’re nearly reaching the one-year mark since Cassie dropped her own bombshell lawsuit, causing a domino effect in the industry. Over the past 10 months, Diddy has been hit with more heinous allegations from former colleagues and associates. Shortly after, his homes were raided by federal agents, reportedly as part of a much bigger investigation. Thusfar, Diddy has not faced any criminal charges, though it feels like this lawsuit from Richard is far from the last.
