Nicki Minaj Hits Back At Alleged Assault Lawsuit From Former Manager

Rap superstar Nicki Minajfinds herself at the center of controversy as a former day-to-day manager, Brandon Garrett, has filed a lawsuit alleging physical and verbal assault during her 2024 tour.

However, Nicki Minaj's legal team has swiftly dismissed the claims, calling them "completely false and frivolous."

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Garrett claims the alleged incident occurred after Nicki's April 2024 concert in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena. He states that Nicki summoned him to her dressing room, where she was reportedly questioning her team about their responsibilities. Tensions allegedly escalated when Nicki discovered Garrett had previously delegated someone else to pick up one of her prescriptions.

Garrett's lawsuit alleges that Nicki exploded in anger, shouting, "Are you f-cking crazy having him pick up my prescription? You have lost your f-cking mind and if my husband were here, he would knock out your f-cking teeth. You're a dead man walking. You just f-cked up your whole life and you will never be anyone, I'll make sure of it."

He goes on to claim that Nicki kept screaming at him and told him his "life was over" before she struck him on the right side of his face with an open hand, causing his head to snap back and his hat to fly off. He further alleges that Nicki's security team allegedly swarmed in close to him before she struck his right wrist, knocking documents out of his hand. She then reportedly ordered him to "get the f-ck out."*

Garrett says he fled the room, locking himself inside a restroom for hours out of fear, nursing a throbbing wrist and sore face. While in the restroom, he said he called his fiancée to explain what had happened. He also claims Nicki's team barred him from rejoining the tour bus headed to Chicago, leaving him stranded in Detroit.

Garrett is suing Minaj for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, seeking unspecified damages.

Nicki Minaj’s attorney, Judd Burstein, issued a statement addressing the allegations:

“At this time, no complaint has been served upon Mrs. Petty (Nicki's married name), and therefore, we are unaware of the specific allegations. 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 favor.”

This is by far the first time the "Starships" rapper has found herself involved in the law. Many may remember the headlining feud between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, which reached a boiling point during New York Fashion Week (NYFW) 2018 at the Harper's Bazaar ICONS party on September 7, 2018. The incident, which quickly went viral, remains one of the most talked-about celebrity clashes in recent pop culture history.

Cardi B reportedly approached Nicki Minaj while she was seated with her entourage, accusing her of speaking negatively about her parenting and her daughter, Kulture. Before the confrontation could escalate, Nicki's security team stepped in to block Cardi from getting too close.

In a moment that instantly went viral, Cardi took off her red stiletto shoe and hurled it at Nicki Minaj. The shoe missed its mark. In the chaos, Cardi was allegedly elbowed by one of Nicki's security guards, leaving her with a visible bump on her forehead.

Cardi was eventually escorted out of the party by security, barefoot and visibly upset, while Nicki remained composed and continued posing for photos. The scene was chaotic, and videos taken by other partygoers flooded social media almost immediately.

Rap icon Nicki Minaj also found herself in the middle of a legal fashion fiasco in 2022 after being sued by her former stylist, Maher Jridi, over allegations of unreturned designer clothing and unpaid stylist fees. While the lawsuit stirred up significant buzz in entertainment and fashion circles, the case was ultimately resolved through a confidential settlement later that year.

Celebrity stylist Maher Jridi, known for his work with high-profile clients, filed a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj, claiming she failed to return several luxury designer outfits that had been loaned to her for performances and public appearances.

In the lawsuit, Jridi alleged that the unreturned garments violated his agreements with luxury fashion houses, leaving him financially responsible for the items. He claimed the cost of the missing items amounted to thousands of dollars, significantly impacting him financially. Additionally, Jridi accused Nicki of failing to pay him outstanding stylist fees, adding further strain to their professional relationship.

After months of legal back-and-forth, the lawsuit was settled out of court in late 2022.