- Jeremih recently toured Australia and New Zealand
- Rental equipment and pole dancer from the Sydney company
- The company accused the singer of not paying invoices
- Also accused of sending insulting messages to critics
- READ MORE: Hip-hop superstar 50 Cent wows Sydney crowd
A touring American singer has been accused of sending expletive-laden messages to Australians who questioned why he had not paid full invoices submitted by pole dancers who performed or worked for him on his recent tour.
American singer Jeremih, who is best known for his 2009 single ‘Birthday Sex’, appeared as a special guest for rapper 50 Cent at various locations in Australia and New Zealand in December last year.
Employees of the Grammy-nominated artist booked stage equipment, which required an experienced instructor, and a pole dancer through the Sydney-based Pole Dancing Academy, run by former corporate lawyer Michelle Shimmy.
The pole dancer went on tour with Jeremih and performed in eight concerts spread over two weeks.
American singer Jeremih appeared as a special guest with rapper 50 Cent in Sydney and performed his own shows in Australia and New Zealand in December. (photo: the singer performs with dancers at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on December 8)
Associates of the Grammy-nominated artist booked stage equipment and a pole dancer through the Sydney-based Pole Dancing Academy, which is run by former corporate lawyer and pole dancer Michelle Shimmy (pictured)
But when both women sent invoices for their work, they were rejected by Jeremih’s staff.
The instructor who helped set up the equipment was never paid for her work and after negotiations, the Pole Dance Academy was ultimately paid only for the equipment rental.
Ms Shimmy claims she was forced to pay for her instructor’s labor costs from the equipment rental costs.
But the dancer who was on tour with the singer was told by Jeremih’s staff that they thought she was just doing it for ‘work experience’ and for ‘exposure’ – even though they had discussed payment.
Outraged by the way her staff member was treated, Ms Shimmy called out Jeremih on her Instagram page last week.
Her employee ended up getting paid less than half of her bill, while Jeremih’s staff claimed they only paid something out of ‘kindness’.
“She was paid well below industry standards for the work she did. She lost 100 percent money on the tour,” Ms Shimmy told Daily Mail Australia.
Jeremih has since been accused of sending abusive messages to anyone who criticized him, labeling them as ‘broken’.
“Maybe they’re broke because people like your team aren’t honoring their contracts and paying what they owe,” someone wrote to the singer.
Jeremih replied, “I don’t care, shorty, bounce.”
Jeremih is accused of sending insulting messages to anyone who has criticized him, calling some of them “broken lowlifes.” Pictured is a screenshot
The singer told a critic he ‘don’t care***’ (pictured)
Ms. Shimmy criticized the singer’s “boldness.”
‘They were huge concerts. “I don’t understand why this man would think anyone would take two weeks off work to go on tour with him to work freely,” she said.
“It’s not a charity, it’s not a profit motive. It functions.’
She added: ‘It’s unbelievable not to pay someone and then laugh at them because they’re broke.’
Ms Shimmy, who runs the pole dancing academy in Sydney, slammed the singer’s “boldness”.
Ms. Shimmy concluded her latest Instagram update with a sarcastic plea to the allegedly money-grubbing singer.
“Jeremiah, how about you take some time out of your busy schedule and accuse other people of being broke and just pay your artists properly because we’re all starting to think you’re the ‘broke hoe’, Mrs. Shimmy said.
Daily Mail Australia approached Jeremih for comment on Monday afternoon and has yet to receive a response.