TDE finds itself in legal trouble just days before its current and former artists are readying for one of the biggest performances of their career.
On Friday (January 31), Newsweek broke the news that Top Dawg Entertainment, the record label that is home to SZA, Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q, and former home to Kendrick Lamar, is being sued by two anonymous women, who are claiming that employees of the label subjected them to sexual harassment and assault. None of the aforementioned artists are named in the suit.
AD LOADING...
When they spoke up, the women said in the suit, management turned a “blind eye.”
Among the TDE employees named in the complaint, per Complex, are Brandon Tiffith — accused by one plaintiff of unwanted sexual advances and sexual battery — and Anthony Tiffith Jr., the son of the label’s founder. The latter is accused of a “pattern of sexual harassment,” according to Complex.
AD LOADING...
One of the plaintiffs, described as a friend of a TDE artist, alleges that she was “sexually harassed twice by TDE employees, one of whom gave her alcohol (despite her being underage) in an attempt to further sexual advances.”
The accusers’ lawyer Shounak S. Dharap released a statement.
AD LOADING...
“This lawsuit presents a glaring example of the systemic abuse and exploitation in the entertainment industry,” he said. “Our clients trusted TDE to act with integrity and professionalism. Instead, their trust was betrayed in profoundly damaging ways. They’re bringing this lawsuit because they refuse to be silenced, and because they intend to hold TDE accountable in court.”
Meanwhile, TDE artist Ab-Soul has seemingly teased that something big is going down during Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl halftime show.
In a cryptic post on X on Wednesday (January 29), the TDE rapper wrote: “LISTEN… I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A FT FROM FREE,” referencing Kendrick’s longtime manager Dave Free.
“SMFH. I JUST SHED A TEAR. DEAD HOMIES. SUPER BOWL LIX. HISTORY!!! @pgLang x @TopDawgEnt.”
AD LOADING...
Many fans interpreted the post as a hint that Ab-Soul — and possibly also his Black Hippy brethren ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock — would be making an appearance during Kendrick’s highly-anticipated performance on February 9.
