Russell Simmons faces yet another legal obstacle after allegedly failing to fulfill previously agreed settlement payments to three women totaling $3 million, putting him in debt for this amount. The three individuals in question are Sil Lai Abrams, Wendy Carolina Franco, and Sherri Abernathy. Moreover, they reportedly agreed on confidential settlements with him in November 2023 for “alleged personal, physical injuries and sickness.” According to Variety, the payments were due by earlier this week on Tuesday (October 1). Simmons offered confessions of judgement and allowed the three women to pursue expedited judgements and start a collection process in the case of his default, which is now reportedly a reality.
However, Russell Simmons did not admit wrongdoing, and it’s unclear why these individuals agreed on these settlements due to the confidential nature of what court documents are available. Nevertheless, he agreed to pay Franco $515,000, whereas he reportedly promised to pay Abrams and Abernathy $1,265,000 each. Abrams previously alleged that Simmons sexually assaulted her in 1994, one of various allegations of sexual misconduct against the music executive. As previously stated, though, the nature of all the three settlements here is unclear.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 03: Russell Simmons attends MusiCares Persons of the Year Honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Elsewhere, Russell Simmons appeared in the headlines recently for a social media interaction relating to the current Diddy scandal. He liked a post from Instagram page The Neighborhood Talk that shared a clip from an interview with Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, an attorney representing one of the Bad Boy mogul’s allege victims. Mitchell-Kidd alleged that someone contacted her about the sale of one of the alleged “freak-off” tapes. In addition, she brought forth the allegation that this footage features another high-profile celebrity. While many online users speculated about this “like,” it’s all just rumor and interpretation, not a concrete connection.
Meanwhile, Russell Simmons continues to engage in a legal battle with his ex, Kimora Lee Simmons. This is based on allegations that she stole money from him to bail her ex husband out of prison, to make a long story short. As for allegedly failing to pay these three women’s agreed court settlements, the available reports on the matter don’t indicate a next step.
In July of 2023, Stephen Harper filed a lawsuit against Dwight Howard, accusing the former NBA star of sexual assault and battery. Reportedly, the suit stemmed from an encounter they had at Howard’s Georgia home in 2021. Harper accused Howard of sexually assaulting him, which Howard denied. Instead, he insisted that they took part in “consensual sexual activity.” He proceeded to ask the judge to dismiss the case, a request they quickly shot down in February.
Now, however, ESPN reports that Harper has dismissed every claim he made against Howard, meaning he cannot sue him again for those claims. Howard’s attorney Justin Bailey also told the outlet that Harper was not paid to drop the lawsuit. At the time of writing, it remains unclear what prompted this decision.
In Harper’s original filing, he alleged that he and Howard exchanged various DMs that were sexual in nature. Eventually, after months of chatting, Howard allegedly invited Harper to his house for sex. When he arrived, Harper alleged that he was made to participate in a threesome with a cross-dresser named Kitty. Howard’s legal battle with Harper is not the only one he’s seen the end of as of late, however. In March of this year, Howard also dropped his lawsuit against Masin Elije.
Back in 2018, Elije allegedly spread rumors that Howard is bisexual. He denied this at the time and went on to sue her for defamation. Reportedly, he decided to drop the suit because he did not believe he’d be able to gather enough evidence to win the case. What do you think of Stephen Harper dropping his lawsuit against Dwight Howard? Are you surprised by this or not? What about Howard reportedly receiving zero settlement money? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Afrika Bambaataa has one of hip-hop’s most complicated, controversial, and crucial legacies in legendary and ugly ways alike. The hip-hop originator and pioneer also faced a slew of child sex trafficking and sexual assault accusations over the past eight years or so, which have really tainted his contributions to the culture in at least a small but nonetheless significant way. However, one of his accusers, Ronald “Bee-Stinger” Savage, linked up with him at an event for a Zulu Nation member, and Savage gave the following statement exclusively to AllHipHop: “Never underestimate the power of God when he intervenes in an affair he sets everything straight.”
“Bambaataa is not a pedophile and, in my eyes, he was doing something that was consensual with someone that he thought was of age,” Savage said of Afrika Bambaataa during a recent interview with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur. “I wish, back in 2016, I remembered about the fake ID, I wasn’t thinking about that I had forgot about that I was in deep depression and still dealing with the trauma as an adult. I want to apologize for the little kid that didn’t know anybody and just wanted to be down with this thing called hip-hop so I pretended to be older.
Afrika Bambaataa’s Accuser Changes His Perspective
“This is something that took place 35 to over 40 years ago,” Savage continued concerning Afrikaa Bambaataa. “This man has never been convicted of anything. Let it go. I needed to set the record straight [and get] my closure. I just hope this brings healing to people around the world. If I can have forgiveness and healing, so can you.” Ronald Savage is a former hip-hop artist that also got involved in a lot of politics and activism in New York, particularly in regards to child molestation.
He accused Afrika Bambaataa of sexually abusing him back in 1980 when Savage was just 15 years old. This kicked off a wave of accusations against the rap legend. This will probably be quite a complex and controversial walk-back to see evolve in the public consciousness. Let’s see how people respond to this shifting legacy.
TI has seen his fair share of legal drama in recent weeks. Luckily, the trap pioneer has taken home at least one win. Last month, he and his wife Tiny filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from an anonymous woman. She accused them of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2005. According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, it was approved, meaning that the case was dismissed.
“The court agreed with Tip and Tameka that Jane Doe doesn’t appear to have any viable claims,” the pair’s rep told the outlet. “As Tip and Tameka stated three years ago, these allegations are some of the many false, salacious allegations thrown out into the media in a cheap attempt to extort money from them.”
Tameka “Tiny” Harris and T.I. attend “Living My Best Life” comedy Special Atlanta Premier at Traffik Kitchen and Cocktails on June 3, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
TI and Tiny have denied the allegations since the suit was filed. In their motion, they also argued that the statute of limitations for the woman’s claims had expired. “All the claims asserted in the Complaint are time-barred because the statute of limitations for such claims has long expired over sixteen years ago,” their attorneys wrote. “Further, notwithstanding the fact that Defendants Clifford Harris (‘Mr. Harris’) and Tameka Harris (‘Mrs. Harris’) (collectively ‘Defendants’ or ‘Harrises’), deny that any of the alleged conduct even occurred, the Complaint fails to allege facts to sufficiently establish any of the claims alleged in the Complaint.”
This lawsuit isn’t the only thing TI can put behind him, however. Earlier this month, he was arrested by mistake at an Atlanta airport. After it was confirmed that authorities were looking for a different man with the same name, he was promptly released. What do you think of a judge deciding to dismiss a lawsuit against TI and Tiny for alleged sexual assault? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Via an alleged representative, Irv Gotti has denied the sexual assault and abuse allegations against him by an anonymous woman in a new lawsuit. Moreover, TMZ reportedly obtained a statement about how he might file a countersuit since the Jane Doe in question only made this case once he refused her requests for monetary compensation. Allegedly, this lawsuit against Gotti emerged “after Mr. Gotti rejected the attempt by this individual to coerce a payment of money from him. The lawsuit contains a single page of ‘facts’ which are unsworn to, sparse by any measure, and which Mr. Gotti categorically denies.”
Furthermore, the mystery female filed suit against Irv Gotti on July 11 in Florida with accusations of sexual assault, battery, and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. She alleges that he abused her during two years of dating beginning in 2020, and that “Gotti coerced Plaintiff into having sex with him” on vacation, the lawsuit reads. Other details of alleged “unwanted sexual acts” include that “Gotti forced her to perform oral sex on him in an elevator,” and that later that year, “he again forced her to perform oral sex on him in an Uber.” The relationship apparently ended after this.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 28: Irv Gotti attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
“The allegations represent an affront to women who have truly suffered abuse,” Irv Gotti’s representative added. “Mr. Gotti has been surrounded by strong women the entirety of his life. His mother, five sisters, and daughter. The top employees at his company are women. Mr. Gotti’s relationships with women have been characterized by mutual respect, honesty, and empathy [and] Mr. Gotti’s reputation has been placed at issue.” In addition, the rep called this a “baseless” lawsuit and revealed that the Murder Inc. executive might retort with a countersuit.
Meanwhile, this is definitely a much larger issue than what Irv Gotti had previously faced on social media as of late. When Ashanti and Nelly announced that they’re expecting a child, the Internet trolled him into oblivion. But now things became much darker and much less fun to joke about. Hopefully we get to the bottom of this case and those criminally responsible see the justice that they deserve.
In March of this year, it was revealed that 50 Cent’s ex Daphne Joy was named in Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ lawsuit against Diddy. Lil Rod accused her of having accepted monthly payments from the mogul for sex work, which she later denied. Regardless, 50 Cent proceeded to troll her with various social media posts, dubbing her a “sex worker” and mocking her for being named in the suit.
Eventually, Joy responded to 50 Cent’s jabs with a lengthy post of her own, which included various allegations. “Let’s put the real focus on your true evil actions of raping me and physically abusing me,” she wrote in part, also adding “You are no longer my oppressor and God will handle you from this point on.”
Sources Claim Daphne Joy’s Deleted Post Is Unrelated To 50 Cent’s Defamation Lawsuit
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson attends WE TV’s “Hip Hop Homicides” New York Premiere at Crosby Street Hotel on November 10, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
He quickly denied the accusations, also alleging that they were merely a response to him seeking custody of their son. In May, he sued her for defamation, claiming that the accusations damaged his reputation, custody case, and more. Now, TMZ reports that she’s removed the post containing the allegations from social media. The outlet notes that it’s unclear exactly when she removed the post or why, though sources say it has nothing to do with the defamation lawsuit. Reportedly, he still plans to move forward with the case, and they haven’t agreed on a settlement.
Perhaps, Joy is looking to put the past behind her for her own peace of mind, or simply out of the public’s view. What do you think of Daphne Joy deleting her social media post accusing 50 Cent of rape and abuse? What about him suing her for alleged defamation? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
In January of this year, TI and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris were hit with a lawsuit by an anonymous woman, accusing them of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2005. The couple was quick to deny the woman’s allegations, which they labeled “extortionate.” Now, they’ve asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit altogether.
“All the claims asserted in the Complaint are time-barred because the statute of limitations for such claims has long expired over sixteen years ago,” their attorneys write. “Further, notwithstanding the fact that Defendants Clifford Harris (‘Mr. Harris’) and Tameka Harris (‘Mrs. Harris’) (collectively ‘Defendants’ or ‘Harrises’), deny that any of the alleged conduct even occurred, the Complaint fails to allege facts to sufficiently establish any of the claims alleged in the Complaint.”
T.I. and Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris attend “LIBRA” Album release Party at Gold Room on October 16, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
“Here, at best, Plaintiff had up to December 31, 2007, to file the instant lawsuit based on the facts alleged in the Complaint,” they also add. “As such, this instant lawsuit, filed over sixteen years past that statutory deadline – 18 years after the facts alleged in the Complaint occurred is time-barred, along with all the claims asserted in the Complaint.”
Shortly after the woman filed the lawsuit, TI and Tiny accused her of having tried to extort them for years. “On the heels of positivity, negativity always rears its ugly head,” they told AllHipHop. “This plaintiff has been threatening to file this lawsuit for THREE years. For THREE years, we have emphatically and categorically denied these allegations.” They also went on to accuse the alleged victim of changing her story on various occasions. What do you think of TI and Tiny filing a motion to dismiss their sexual assault lawsuit? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
In January of this year, TI and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris were hit with a lawsuit by an anonymous woman, accusing them of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2005. The couple was quick to deny the woman’s allegations, which they labeled “extortionate.” Now, they’ve asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit altogether.
“All the claims asserted in the Complaint are time-barred because the statute of limitations for such claims has long expired over sixteen years ago,” their attorneys write. “Further, notwithstanding the fact that Defendants Clifford Harris (‘Mr. Harris’) and Tameka Harris (‘Mrs. Harris’) (collectively ‘Defendants’ or ‘Harrises’), deny that any of the alleged conduct even occurred, the Complaint fails to allege facts to sufficiently establish any of the claims alleged in the Complaint.”
T.I. and Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris attend “LIBRA” Album release Party at Gold Room on October 16, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
“Here, at best, Plaintiff had up to December 31, 2007, to file the instant lawsuit based on the facts alleged in the Complaint,” they also add. “As such, this instant lawsuit, filed over sixteen years past that statutory deadline – 18 years after the facts alleged in the Complaint occurred is time-barred, along with all the claims asserted in the Complaint.”
Shortly after the woman filed the lawsuit, TI and Tiny accused her of having tried to extort them for years. “On the heels of positivity, negativity always rears its ugly head,” they told AllHipHop. “This plaintiff has been threatening to file this lawsuit for THREE years. For THREE years, we have emphatically and categorically denied these allegations.” They also went on to accuse the alleged victim of changing her story on various occasions. What do you think of TI and Tiny filing a motion to dismiss their sexual assault lawsuit? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Since November, Diddy has found himself embroiled in controversy. Overall, it all started when his ex Cassie accused him of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and sex trafficking. These allegations were shocking, and they subsequently led to a settlement the very next day. However, things eventually got worse for Diddy as numerous other women came out with similar lawsuits. The allegations against Diddy began to mount, and eventually, he had his home raided.
Although we haven’t seen any ramifications from the raid, we do know that a Grand Jury has been formed. This means an indictment could be coming down the pipeline, although that is certainly not guaranteed. Recently, some footage surfaced online that shows Diddy throwing Cassie to the ground, and kicking her while she’s down. Following this footage, Diddy released a much-scrutinized apology on his Instagram. Now, that video along with every other post on the mogul’s IG page, is gone.
There is no telling why Diddy decided to scrub his Instagram. Overall, this is a tactic that many artists employ when they enter a new era or want to start promoting a new album. However, as it pertains to Diddy, it’s certainly a curious move. Fans are certainly going to make their assumptions. However, it is important to stand back and wait for more information. We will certainly provide you with those updates as soon as they become available.
Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Why do you think Diddy went ahead and deleted all of his posts on Instagram? Do you think any legal ramifications are coming down the pipeline for the mogul? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
He might be a Grammy-winning songwriter, and behind numerous hits, but The-Dream might also be a nightmare for a few. Terius Youngdell Nash, better known as The-Dream, is a celebrated figure in the music industry and a magnet for drama and scandals. The songwriter and producer gained recognition for his work with notable high-profile artists, contributing to hit songs such as Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed,” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” The-Dream’s career, punctuated by both musical genius and personal drama, has kept him in the public eye for more reasons than just his chart-topping hits. Now, he faces some seriously damning allegations of rape and sexual assault. Here are some of his wildest controversies to date.
In 2010, Oakland-based songwriters accused Mariah Carey and The-Dream of stealing music from their 2008 song “Are You the One” for “Love vs. Money,” a track on The-Dream’s album. Marshall and Driver sued them for $450,000 for copyright infringement. Four years later, the parties settled. In February, Carey agreed to dismiss all claims against her, and in April, The-Dream settled with Marshall and Driver under the same terms as Carey. According to the agreement, each party would pay its own legal fees.
2011: A Cheating Scandal
The-Dream married singer and actress Christina Milian in September 2009. Just five months after their wedding, he filed for divorce, nine months before the birth of Milian’s daughter Violet. Although they had been dating for a few months, their marriage was a celebrated affair that came to an end very quickly. He declared that he and Milian’s marriage was irrevocably broken and had no hope for reconciliation. However, before the divorce was finalized, photos of The-Dream vacationing in the Caribbean with his assistant, Melissa Santiago, surfaced and quickly spread.
In response, he issued a public apology on his website, apologizing to everyone involved. A year later, in an issue of Latina, Milian opened up about her marriage to The-Dream, and the drama surrounding it. What particularly stood out was when she confessed that she had known nothing about his cheating. “I’ve been to hell and back, but I survived,” she said. “I tried to be someone I wasn’t because I wanted my marriage to work. But ultimately, if it’s not working, it’s not working… I didn’t know anything. Looking back, my gut was telling me something was off. But I thought I could fix it.”
2012: Parenting Issues
As if the very public divorce wasn’t enough, the exes went on a dramatic and feud-filled post-divorce period. However, one of the issues that caught public attention was Christina Milian opening up about The-Dream’s absence in their daughter’s life. In an interview with The Box, Christina explained that The-Dream does not try to see or spend time with their daughter. She stated: “I’m not happy at the moment, but I have come to the realization that I have to be 200% mum for her and it’s not about finances, it’s about spending time… I’m not one of those who withhold their children from their baby daddy. I don’t do that.”
The interview immediately stirred up drama and backlash on The-Dream’s end as fans and onlookers quickly brought up his interview with Parlour Magazine. Specifically, the singer had mentioned that he would not help raise his daughter. He stated: “I don’t because my ‘helping out’ turns into expectations. I’ll get Violet on a late night maybe one or two times, but after that, no. If Christina’s tired, call the nanny, call Violet’s granny. We got people.”
In 2014, The-Dream’s drama took a more violent turn. According to TMZ, He was arrested on charges of felony assault and strangulation, along with misdemeanor assault, reckless endangerment, and child endangerment. His then-pregnant ex-girlfriend, Lydia Nam filed the complaint and claimed he assaulted her in a fit of rage in 2013. The alleged assault reportedly occurred at New York’s Plaza Hotel three months before the birth of their son. Nam delayed filing a police report until November for undisclosed reasons. The-Dream had previously denied the allegations, and there was speculation that Nam might have been using the accusation to extend her visa. Ultimately, the D.A. rejected the case after Nam refused to press charges and the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Regardless, the case drew significant media attention and the incident left a stain on his songwriter’s image.
2024: The-Dream Faces Rape Allegations
Drama has once again found The-Dream in 2024. He is being accused of rape and sexual battery, among other allegations, by his former protégée, Chanaaz Mangroe, also known as Channii Monroe. In her suit, she claims that in 2015, The-Dream used promises of career advancement to entangle her in an abusive relationship. Furthermore, he also allegedly repeatedly forced her to have sex with him, and strangled her. She also alleges that he once made a video recording of an intimate encounter and threatened to show it to others.
Additionally, the suit accuses him of sex trafficking. In response to the suit, The-Dream released a statement through his representative, denying the allegations. “These claims are untrue and defamatory. I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realize their career goals. As someone committed to making a positive impact on my fellow artists and the world at large, I am deeply offended and saddened by these accusations.”
