It looks like the JAY-Z, R. Kelly and Aaliyah drama isn’t the only thing Dame Dash has to face. According to TMZ, the Roc-A-Fella co-founder is being sued for copyright infringement and defamation over the film Dear Frank.
Director Josh Webber and Muddy Water Pictures reportedly filed a lawsuit for allegedly trying to advertise and shop the movie while pushing it as his own. Webber and MWP claim Dash was hired to direct the film in 2016, but they determined he couldn’t complete the job because he’d show up to the set on his Sherman Oaks property high all the time.
They accuse Dash of sending promotional material to various news outlets for a movie he’s been calling The List, which was renamed Dear Frank since Dash’s departure.
Webber and MWP say they officially dropped Dash last year and no official contract was ever signed. Consequently, they’re asking a judge to declare they own the rights to Dear Frank. They’re also seeking unspecified damages.
Webber went into detail about the allegations in a recent Instagram post.
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“I wasn’t gonna speak on this bum but fuck him and his lies,” Webber wrote on Sunday (January 20). “I won’t sit back and let this guy try to slander or bully me any longer. Truth is @duskopoppington is not a true independent artist or business man like he tries to pretend to be.. He was HIRED by @muddfilms to ‘Direct’ the film #thelist originally as a pure marketing stunt. I was the producer of the film and asked to ensure that it actually got made by ghost directing certain aspects.
“Dame has no idea what directing a movie actually is or takes and was constantly yelling at crew members/cast, berating people on set, smoking weed and basically sleeping at the wheel. Then while in the process of finishing the film, Dame was being a hot head with the studio executive producer/financier stepping out of line and finally got FIRED!! I was approached to finish the job by directing the movie to completion and attached my company to help in its formal release. Really simple to understand.”
Webber continued, “This happened a long time ago already. He just mad because we about to put it out finally and had him cut out the movie entirely like the sucker he is. Dame is only sour because he put himself in a position to lose like he has done so many times in previous businesses. He is only mad at himself for being an idiot and looking for someone to blame so he screams ‘Culture Vulture” like anyone in the world even gives a shit. Grow up! Your old and weak! Don’t try and make this a race thing ya bozo!”
Dash reportedly believes the only reason a lawsuit has been filed is because they knew Dash was also planning to sue them. He says they shot the movie at his house with his equipment and stole the footage to promote the film without him. Dash reportedly has evidence to back up his claims and plans to present it in the near future.
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“These liars @muddfilms @joshawebber and @tonywhiteceo tried to con me and when I caught them I lying I took over the project and let @muddfilms stay in for short paper because he pretended to be thorough,” Dash wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday (January 22). “Now the #culturevulture @joshawebber who is obsessed with being me was my assistant director in true culture vulture form is going to try to take credit for a Black mans work.”
Dear Frank stars Claudia Jordan and is expected to arrive next month.
