Photo Credit: Getty Images
Mary J. Blige is clapping back at fashion stylist and entrepreneur Misa Hylton after Hylton filed a $5 million lawsuit accusing the R&B icon of poaching one of her artists. According to court documents, Hylton claims Blige deliberately interfered with a business relationship by allegedly luring her artist away to sign under the label of Blige’s rumored boyfriend, however, Blige is not having it and says the whole case is nothing more than a publicity stunt.
In a bold statement made through her legal team, Blige dismissed the lawsuit as “a desperate clout-chasing move meant to smear my reputation.” The Grammy-winning singer went on to claim that the management company listed in the lawsuit, which Hylton says was harmed by Blige’s actions, “doesn’t even legally exist in the state of New York.”
Blige’s camp says they have already investigated the business registry and found no credible listing for the company Hylton claims was managing the artist in question. “There’s no valid entity by that name recognized in the State of New York,” her attorney stated. “You can’t sue for damages on behalf of something that isn’t legally recognized.”
Misa Hylton, a prominent figure in the fashion and entertainment industry best known for styling hip-hop legends like Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliott, filed the lawsuit earlier this month, alleging that Blige used her influence and celebrity status to sway the artist away from a binding contract. The artist, whose identity has not yet been publicly disclosed, allegedly jumped ship to sign with a new label owned by someone Blige is romantically linked to.
Sources close to Blige say she is “shocked and hurt” by the legal attack, especially considering the long-standing mutual respect between her and Hylton in the entertainment industry. “This is not how businesswomen are supposed to treat each other,” Blige reportedly told friends. Blige has vowed to fight the case aggressively and is considering filing a countersuit for defamation and emotional distress. Meanwhile, Hylton has remained silent since filing, letting the court filings speak for themselves.
