Nicki Minaj Sued for Assault by Former Tour Employee

by

As a lifelong gamer and concert-goer, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the latest news of Nicki Minaj being sued for assault, battery, and emotional distress by one of her former tour employees. Having attended numerous concerts and events over the years, I have witnessed firsthand the energy, passion, and excitement that these performances bring to fans like myself.

However, it’s unfortunate incidents like this that remind us of the darker side of the entertainment industry. As a gamer, I often find parallels between the virtual worlds we inhabit and real-life situations. In some games, characters can behave in ways that seem unbelievable or even cruel, but we accept it as part of the game. But when those same behaviors manifest in real life, it’s hard to shake off the disappointment and disillusionment.

I remember watching Nicki Minaj’s performances with a sense of awe and admiration, marveling at her talent and stage presence. Now, hearing about an alleged altercation involving one of her tour employees, I can’t help but feel let down. It’s like finding out that the character you’ve been rooting for in your favorite game has a darker side you never knew existed.

On a lighter note, I guess it’s a reminder that even our idols are just human beings with their own flaws and imperfections – even if they do play an unstoppable superhero in their music videos or games! But as fans, let’s hope for a peaceful resolution to this situation and maybe even some character development in the future for all parties involved. After all, it’s never too late to level up!

A former tour staff member is filing a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj, alleging physical attacks (assault) and causing bodily harm (battery), as well as intentionally causing emotional distress during a concert in Detroit, Michigan, back in April 2023.

As reported by Billboard, papers submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday claim that Brandon Garrett, who was managing the rapper’s Pink Friday 2 tour at the time, alleges that he was physically assaulted by Minaj (real name Onika Maraj) during a backstage altercation at the Little Caesars Arena on April 21, last year.

In the suit, Garret alleges that on that specific day, he was summoned to Nicki Minaj’s backstage dressing room, where she accused him of delegating the task of picking up her prescriptions to another tour employee, Luke Montgomery, since he himself was preoccupied with other tour duties.

The complaint states that Ms. Antney, a former manager, inquired about Mr. Montgomery fetching prescriptions for Defendant Maraj, according to Billboard. The plaintiff explained that he had asked Mr. Montgomery to get a prescription previously because Defendant Maraj needed it urgently, but at the time, the plaintiff was busy attending to Defendant Maraj in the quick change room during a performance as part of his job duties, which involved assisting Defendant Maraj with dressing for performances.

Based on my experience as a conflict mediator and counselor, I’ve seen many heated arguments escalate quickly, but the exchange between Garrett and Minaj seems particularly intense and alarming. As someone who has helped people navigate through similar situations, I believe it’s important to address the underlying issues at play here, rather than just focusing on the angry words exchanged in the heat of the moment. It’s clear that trust, respect, and communication have broken down between them, which can be detrimental to any relationship.

In my line of work, I’ve seen relationships mend when both parties are willing to listen actively, express their feelings calmly, and work together to find solutions that meet each other’s needs. In this case, it seems that Garrett may have crossed a boundary by allowing someone else to pick up Minaj’s prescription without her explicit permission. This could be seen as a breach of trust and a violation of boundaries, which can understandably make anyone feel upset and angry.

On the other hand, Minaj’s threat towards Garrett is concerning and inappropriate. It’s never acceptable to make threats or resort to violence, no matter how frustrated one may be. In my experience, it’s essential for both parties to take responsibility for their actions, apologize sincerely, and work together to find a solution that respects each other’s boundaries moving forward.

In conclusion, I believe that both Garrett and Minaj need to take a step back, cool down, and reflect on the situation. They should communicate openly and honestly with one another about their feelings and concerns, and work towards rebuilding trust and respect in their relationship. It will take effort from both parties, but it’s possible to move past this incident and learn from it, as long as they are willing to do the work required.

As stated in the complaint, following this, Minaj is said to have begun shouting at Montgomery, demanding details about the type of prescription he had collected and the exact time. However, when Montgomery couldn’t recall these details, Minaj reportedly shouted at him, instructing him to search through his phone until he found the relevant information.

If neither Montgomery nor Garrett could respond to Minaj’s inquiries, the lawsuit states that the rapper then requested to examine Montgomery’s cell phone to view the last message exchanged between them and the Plaintiff. Montgomery is said to have handed over his phone to Minaj, but according to Garrett, instead, Minaj moved quite near to Montgomery’s face while continuing to shout loudly.

As per the complaint, things apparently got more and more intense. Minaj is said to have struck the plaintiff on the right side of his face with an open hand, causing him to jerk his head back and lose his hat. At this point, Garrett alleges that several members of Minaj’s security team moved in close to them both, following which Minaj supposedly hit the plaintiff on his right wrist, causing the documents he was holding to fall to the floor.

After the argument, Garrett states that the rapper told him to leave the room, at which point he hurried to the closest bathroom and secured himself inside for several hours. He contacted his fiancé to share what had transpired. “At this juncture, the Plaintiff was experiencing a throbbing wrist and a sore face, but he remained in the bathroom out of fear and concern for his safety,” the lawsuit explains.

The next day, Garrett found out from Antney that he wouldn’t be catching the bus from Detroit to Chicago. According to the lawsuit, this led Garrett to take a flight to Chicago instead, and he reached out to the Chicago Police Department to file a police report and ask for an escort back to his hotel because he was worried about his safety and unsure if his possessions had been disturbed or taken.

After returning to his hotel, it’s said that Garrett stayed put for a few days due to fear and trauma following the incident. Later, he headed back to Detroit to formally submit a police report.

Minaj’s attorney did not immediately respond to The Hollywood Reporter‘s request for comment.

Read More

2025-01-04 09:25