Nicki Minaj avoids assault charges for ex-manager in Detroit as investigation continues
Prosecutors in Wayne County, Michigan have denied Detroit police’s request for an arrest warrant against singer Nicki Minaj in connection with an alleged attack on her former manager Brandon Garrett last April.
The Barbie World singer, 42, is not currently in danger of being taken into custody in connection with the incident, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office said. TMZ It was reported on Monday that there was ‘insufficient evidence’ of a crime to obtain a warrant.
Prosecutors told the newspaper that Detroit police requested a warrant for the 12-time Grammy nominee, and were advised to continue investigating the allegations.
Garrett said in a civil lawsuit that the Trinidad and Tobago-born music artist physically assaulted and threatened him while he was backstage after a concert in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena in April 2024.
In the documents obtained by the outlet, Garrett, who claims to be the rapper’s former manager, says he was “affected” by the Super Freaky Girl singer, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Minaj’s attorney Judd Burstein labeled the lawsuit “false and frivolous” and said the music artist has not received a formal complaint. Burstein also suggested that Garrett was the rapper’s “ex-assistant” and not a “former manager.”
Prosecutors in Wayne County, Michigan have denied Detroit police’s request for an arrest warrant against 42-year-old singer Nicki Minaj in connection with an alleged attack on her former manager Brandon Garrett last April. Minaj pictured in March 2024 in New York
The Barbie World singer, 42, is currently not in danger of being taken into custody in connection with the incident, pending further investigation. Pictured in 2023 in New Jersey
The alleged incident occurred when Garrett was called to the Minaj’s locker room for an errand he had been assigned.
Garrett claims he was supposed to pick up prescriptions for Minaj, but instead sent another employee, Luke Montgomery, because he was busy with other duties at the arena.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, states that Minaj became “visibly upset,” per Billboardand yelled at him, “Are you fucking crazy if he picks up my prescription?”
It is claimed she also shouted: ‘You’ve gone bloody crazy and if my husband was here he’d knock your bloody teeth out. You’re a dead man walking. You’ve ruined your whole life and you’ll never be anyone, I’ll make sure of that.’
During the alleged incident, Garrett says Minaj approached him and “struck him on the right side of his face, causing his head to swing back while his hat flew off his head.”
Minaj’s security then approached him, and Garrett claims the entertainer punched him in the right wrist, causing him to drop the papers he was holding.
The music artist allegedly ordered Garrett to “get out” before going to a toilet in the venue and locking himself in.
Concerned for his safety, Garrett claims he waited in the bathroom for hours, where he called his partner to report what had happened.
Prosecutors told the newspaper that Detroit police requested a warrant for the 12-time Grammy nominee, and were advised to continue investigating the allegations; pictured in May 2024 at the Met Gala in New York
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Minaj’s attorney Judd Burstein labeled the lawsuit “false and frivolous” and said the music artist has not received a formal complaint; seen in 2022
He claims in the lawsuit that his “pulse was throbbing and his face was sore, but he remained in the restroom because he was terrified and feared for his safety.”
After the alleged incident, Garrett said he was not allowed to board the tour bus to return to Chicago and was left behind in Detroit.
He flew back to Chicago to return to his hotel room, and stayed there “for the next few days… because he was scared and traumatized,” according to Billboard’s account.
Garrett claims he filed a report with the Chicago Police Department and went back to Detroit to file a formal police report there as well.
The alleged former employee is suing for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Brandon also seeks punitive, exemplary and general damages.
Minaj’s attorney told DailyMail.com in a statement: “At this time, no complaint has been filed with Ms. Petty and therefore we are not aware of the specific allegations.”
Her Pink Friday 2 World Tour started in March 2024 and ended in October.