‘Anaconda’ hitmaker Nicki Minaj might have quite a rough start this new year with looming criminal charges hanging over her head following a lawsuit that was filed by a man claiming to be her former manager.
The US-based Trinidad rapper, actress, lyricist and entrepreneur is being sued for alleged physical assault. Interestingly, the alleged incident occurred just a year ago and prosecutors are weighing the probability of a full-on suit.
Nicki’s former manager, Brandon Garrett, is claiming an account of assault and battery according to multiple American online publications.
According to TMZ, who broke the story, sources in the Detroit law enforcement department confirmed to them that the police have sent a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office that is being reviewed to determine whether criminal charges will be issued. The decision to file charges now rests with the prosecutor.
Brandon, in the lawsuit filed, claims that the multi-award-winning artist assaulted him back in April 2024 during one of her tours in Detroit.
He claims that shortly after her performance, the ‘Megaton’ hitmaker not only furiously yelled at him, but also slapped him across the face and smacked his wrists as well while they were in her dressing room and in front of other staff members.
You’re probably wondering what Brandon did to infuriate the rap queen to such an extent. Well, the alleged former manager claims Nicki got upset after she learned that instead of executing an errand that she’d personally asked him to Brandon had delegated the task to someone else.
According to legal documents he claims that the A-List Hollywood star flew into rage after she found out that he sent someone else (another employee whom he identifies as, Luke Montgomery,) to pick up her prescriptions.
Brandon Garret further claims that while screaming at him she severally threatened him while yelling the words, “Are you freaking crazy having him pick up my prescription?‘ Your life is over!” Before ultimately smacking him across his cheeks with her hand, “causing his head to swing backwards and his hat fall off.” And as if that is not enough, he adds that she proceeded to slap his wrists knocking over some documents that he was carrying.
Scared for his safety after Nicki yelled at him to leave her dressing room, Brandon alleges he ran and hid in a bathroom at the venue, locking himself inside where he claims he waited inside the restroom for hours.
After the incident Brandon maintains he was left in Detroit as he wasn’t allowed back on the tour bus to return to Chicago, forcing him to book a flight for himself.
Upon returning to his hotel room, he stayed there ‘for the next couple days…because he was fearful and traumatized,’ per Billboard’s account.
Following all this, Brandon is suing Nicki for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. And for the cherry on the cake? He’s going after her for punitive, exemplary and general damages as well, probably looking into raking in big racks
However, in a statement to Daily Mail, Minaj’s lawyer Judd Burstein slammed the lawsuit as ‘false and frivolous’ and said the music artist has not been served with a formal complaint.
‘At this time, no complaint has been served upon Mrs. Petty, and therefore, we are unaware of the specific allegations,’ the rapper’s lawyer stated as he went on to imply that Brandon Garrett was the Nicki’s ‘ex assistant’ and not a ‘former manager.’
by HANNIE PETRA
