Nicki Minaj, the Grammy-nominated rapper renowned for her magnetic stage presence, now finds herself embroiled in a legal skirmish. A former employee has lodged a lawsuit against her, alleging assault, battery, and the “deliberate infliction of emotional distress.”
In a lawsuit filed last Friday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Brandon Garrett, who claims to have worked as a day-to-day manager for Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 tour, accuses the artist, born Onika Maraj, of striking him during an altercation. The alleged incident unfolded backstage at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on April 21, following one of Minaj’s performances.
Minaj’s attorney, Judd Burstein, has vehemently repudiated the accusations, branding them as baseless and speculative. In a statement provided to Variety, Burstein remarked, “As of now, Mrs. Petty has not been served any formal complaint, leaving us in the dark about the precise allegations. However, if TMZ’s report aligns with the claims in the lawsuit, they are utterly fabricated and devoid of merit. We are confident this issue will be resolved favorably for Mrs. Petty.”
Details of the Alleged Incident
The lawsuit contends that Garrett, after completing an errand requested by Minaj, received a text from her chief of security, Larry Dathan—known as “Bz.” The message purportedly directed Garrett to report to Minaj’s dressing room, where eight other team members, including Dathan, Luke Montgomery, and former manager Deb Antney, were present.
Minaj allegedly expressed dissatisfaction with her team, criticizing their lack of clarity regarding roles and responsibilities. She then turned her attention to Montgomery, demanding an explanation of his duties. Montgomery reportedly detailed tasks such as setting up dressing rooms, arranging private jets and tour buses, and procuring refreshments for quick-change areas—all in addition to fulfilling personal requests from Minaj, including sourcing prescriptions.
Garrett claims that when he explained delegating the prescription errand to Montgomery due to his own commitments, Minaj became visibly enraged. According to the lawsuit, she berated him, saying, “Are you out of your mind, having him handle my prescriptions?” and threatened, “If my husband were here, he’d knock your teeth out.” She allegedly escalated with further threats, proclaiming, “You’ve ruined your life. I’ll ensure you amount to nothing.”
Montgomery, unable to recall specifics about the prescriptions, reportedly offered his phone for Minaj to review their correspondence. Garrett alleges that Minaj continued her tirade, moving aggressively toward Montgomery before striking Garrett open-handedly across the face, causing his hat to fly off. She is also accused of striking his wrist, leaving it sore and throbbing.
Aftermath and Legal Pursuit
Following the alleged assault, Garrett states he was ordered to leave the room and sought refuge in a nearby restroom for hours. Shortly afterward, Antney informed him he was excluded from the team’s journey to Chicago. Garrett took an Uber to the Detroit airport and contacted the local police to inquire about filing a report. However, he was advised to appear in person at a precinct to formalize his complaint, which he claims he couldn’t do due to an impending flight to Chicago.
Upon arriving in Chicago, Garrett sought a police escort to his hotel out of concern for his safety. He later filed an official report in Detroit, seeking punitive, exemplary, and general damages through the lawsuit.
The Road Ahead
As the case unfolds, Minaj’s legal team maintains steadfast confidence in her innocence. The allegations, rife with dramatic details, paint a contentious picture, setting the stage for a highly publicized courtroom battle.
