Stylist Misa Hylton has filed a $5M lawsuit against her former client and friend, Mary J. Blige, alleging the singer attempted to sabotage her business relationship with rapper Vado.
Supporters of both women were in shock when news of the lawsuit surfaced due to their very public, over three-decade friendship. Hylton’s lawyer, Nicholas Ramcharitar, recently addressed their relationship and the suit with Lauren Lorosa of The Breakfast Club, calling the situation “unfortunate,” but insisting Hylton did everything she could to settle the issue privately, not to mention save her friendship.
“Misa Hylton and Mary J. Blige, they’re not just friends, they’re non-biological family, probably closer than blood family, and it’s very unfortunate that this had to go down like this because Misa tried everything to amicably resolve the issue with Mary directly, with Mary’s camp,” the attorney shared. “But unbeknownst to us why, Mary J. Blige and her camp completely cut off Mrs. Hylton.”
The rep added that the lawsuit itself isn’t what killed their friendship, insisting that Misa is “confused” by Mary’s behavior. Hylton and her team have allegedly reached out to the songstress several times — regarding both their friendship and business — and have gone ignored.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 14: Mary J. Blige and Misa Hylton during Mary J. Blige’s Birthday Celebration at Cipriani Wall Street on January 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Within the lawsuit, Hylton clarifies that Vado signed a management deal with her M.I.S.A. Management company on July 25, 2023 and later signed a record deal with Blige’s Beautiful Life Productions on October 1, 2023. Blige is accused of removing Hylton from emails and purposefully excluding her from conversations where the singer allegedly attempted to persuade the rapper to drop Misa as management and sign on with her head of security, whom Hylton calls Blige’s “boyfriend.” Blige is also accused of shelving Vado’s completed album until he severs business ties with Hylton.
This alleged interference has resulted in a loss of wages for both Vado and Misa, as Hylton’s agency is entitled to 20% of the rapper’s earnings. This includes from potential album sales, show appearances, various bookings, etc.
Hylton’s attorney stressed, however, that the designer is more broken up over the turn their personal relationship took. “It’s like all of a sudden you have a sister you been with forever, and 40 years later all of a sudden your sister stops talking to you and you don’t know why.”
Hear Ramcharitar speak on the lawsuit below.
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