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A former employee of Nicki Minaj who acted as a manager on her Pink Friday 2 tour has alleged the rapper struck him multiple times.
The tour manager, Brandon Garrett, filed a lawsuit on Friday, January 3, accusing Minaj of assault and battery, as well as “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
The artist’s legal team has refuted the allegations and said that the story as first reported by TMZ is inaccurate.
In a written statement to Variety, Minaj’s lawyer Judd Burstein wrote: “At this time, no complaint has been served upon Mrs Petty [Minaj’s husband is Kenneth Petty], and therefore we are unaware of the specific allegation.”
“However, if the lawsuit is as reported by TMZ, it is completely false and frivolous. We are confident that the matter brought by this ex-assistant will be resolved swiftly in Mrs Petty’s favour.”
Why is Nicki Minaj being sued by a former employee?
According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior court, Minaj reportedly confronted Garrett backstage after a performance at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan on April 21.
The tour manager said the flash point occurred with Minaj after he asked another employee on the tour management team to collect her prescriptions, as he was too busy with other work responsibilities.
Minaj reportedly gathered eight team members in her dressing room, including her head of security, and complained about confusion on the team, including employees “not knowing what they are supposed to do, and who reports to who.”
After hearing that Garrett had asked his colleague to complete the errand, the manager claims Minaj “angrily screamed” things including “Are you f***ng crazy having him pick up my prescription?” and “If my husband was here, he would knock out your f***ing teeth.”
The suit alleges a “visibly upset” Minaj then said: “You just f***ed up your whole life and you will never be anyone, I’ll make sure of it.”
After it became clear that Garrett and his colleague could not work out between them what had happened with the collection of her prescription, the rapper reportedly demanded to see the colleague’s phone.
But instead of reading the messages between the employees, the suit claims, Minaj “got very close” to Garrett before she “open-handedly struck Plaintiff on the right side of his face, causing his head to swing backwards as his hat flew off his head.”
Garrett further alleges Minaj struck him on the wrist.
What happened after the alleged assault?
After the alleged assault, the tour manager said Minaj demanded he leave the room. Garrett claimed he subsequently locked himself in a bathroom for several hours.
He also alleged that he received a notice from another former manager informing him that he would not be continuing with the tour on its next stop in Chicago, Illinois.
Minaj’s former employee then flew to Chicago and filed a police report, requesting an escort to his hotel. According to the suit, Garrett “feared for his safety and did not know if his belongings had been removed or tampered with,” and reportedly stayed in his hotel for several days as he was “fearful and traumatized.” The manager subsequently filed another police report in Detroit, Michigan.
Garret has asked for punitive and exemplary damages and general damages.
