According to TMZ’s law enforcement sources, Detroit Police Department officials have requested an arrest warrant after Nicki Minaj was sued for assault and battery by a former tour employee.
As previously reported, New York rapper Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj, is facing a lawsuit from a man claiming to be the rapper’s manager, alleging that he touched him after a show in Detroit in April 2024.
According to TMZ, the shocking court documents were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, January 3, 2025.
Brandon Garrett, who was reportedly in charge of day-to-day operations for Nicki Minaj’s 2024 “Pink Friday 2” tour, claimed in his lawsuit that things heated up following a show backstage at Little Caesars Arena on April 21. He claimed that Minaj lost her cool and hit him multiple times.
In his lawsuit, the employee claimed that the alleged assault occurred after he was summoned to Nicki Minaj’s dressing room backstage at the arena. Once there, he claimed to have gotten into a heated argument with the rapper and her former manager, Debra “Deb” Antney.
According to reports, the two women were upset with Garrett because he sent another tour employee, hospitality manager Luke Montgomery, to get prescription medications for Minaj rather than doing it himself.
Garrett claimed Minaj repeatedly told him his “life was over” before hitting him in the face with an open palm. He claimed that the rapper then slapped his wrist, knocking papers out of his hand. The employee is suing Nicki Minaj for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and damages.
Garrett’s complaint stated that “Ms. Antney asked why Mr. Montgomery was picking up prescriptions on behalf of Defendant Maraj.” Plaintiff responded that he had previously had Mr. Montgomery pick up a prescription because Defendant Maraj required it immediately,
but Plaintiff was at the venue with Defendant Maraj in the quick change room during a performance because one of Plaintiff’s job duties was to assist Defendant Maraj with dressing during performances.”
Her lawyer, Judd Burstein, responded to reports that Nicki Minaj was being sued by a former tour employee, telling TMZ, “At this time, no complaint has been served upon Mrs. Petty [Nicki Minaj’s married name with husband Kenneth “Kenny” Petty], and thus, we are unaware of the specific allegations.”
However, if the lawsuit is as TMZ reported, it is completely false and frivolous. We are confident that the matter brought by this former assistant will be quickly resolved in Mrs. Petty’s favor.
Since the reports of the former tour employee filing an assault lawsuit against Nicki Minaj on Saturday (January 4), TMZ has learned from law enforcement sources that the Detroit Police Department has sent a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, which will be reviewed to determine whether or not criminal charges will be filed.
The prosecutor will then decide whether to file formal charges.
