Jackson 5’s Jermaine Jackson Faces Sexual Assault Allegations from the 1980s

Jermaine Jackson, one of the original members of the Jackson 5 and the elder brother of Michael Jackson, has been accused of sexual assault in 1988 by a woman, as per a recent lawsuit filed in California.

The concise lawsuit, which was lodged in Los Angeles on Wednesday, contains allegations from the complainant, Rita Barrett, that Jackson attacked her in her residence over thirty years ago, after he arrived at her home without prior notice. Barrett’s assertions in the lawsuit include that she became acquainted with Jackson through her profession as a music contractor and also via Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. She claims to have had a close relationship with Gordy through her spouse, Ben Barrett.

The lawsuit declares, “Defendant Jackson forced himself into Plaintiff’s home, and with force and violence sexually assaulted Plaintiff.” It continues, “During the assault, Plaintiff, a woman of faith prayed to God for help. During the assault, Plaintiff feared for her life. After the assault and when Defendant Jackson was satiated, he left the residence.”

The lawsuit names Jackson, along with his businesses Jermaine L. Jackson Music Productions and Work Records, as defendants. The causes of action listed are sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, and negligence. Barrett is seeking damages, the amount of which is not specified.

Jeff Anderson, Barrett’s lawyer, said that “Rita Barrett suffered an egregious and violent sexual assault.” He added, “This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law, and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others.”

While Gordy is not listed as a defendant, the lawsuit alleges that he shielded Jackson due to financial considerations. Barrett claims that she informed Gordy about the incident the day after it occurred because of his connection with both her and the Jackson family. She asserts that Gordy “was uniquely situated to both report Defendant Jackson’s acts and to aid plaintiff during her time of trauma.”

The lawsuit further alleges, “Instead, Mr. Gordy withheld and concealed the acts, further perpetuating the coverup and allowing Mr. Gordy, Defendant Jackson, and others in the business relationship to continue to reap profits derived from Mr. Jackson’s work and reputation for years to come.” The lawsuit was filed under California’s AB2777, similar to New York’s recently expired Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifts the statute of limitations on certain civil claims related to sexual misconduct. These laws have resulted in a surge of sexual abuse lawsuits in the music and entertainment sectors, with allegations being made against actors, artists, and executives, including Vin Diesel, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Axl Rose, and L.A. Reid, among others, in lawsuits filed in recent months.

SZA on Feeling Frustrated Regarding Rihanna's Usage of "Consideration" on Her Album "Anti"

In a time long past, before SZA became one of the most streamed artists on Spotify in 2023, she was compelled to relinquish her song “Consideration” to a more renowned artist of that period — Rihanna. Rihanna incorporated the song into her 2016 album Anti. Initially, it was a hard pill to swallow for the “Kill Bill” vocalist, but she now expresses gratitude for the occurrence. “I cared so much,” SZA mused during a video interview with Variety released on Wednesday (Nov. 29). “I was so, just, frustrated. And I felt like, ‘I’ll never have anything this cool again.’ I’ll never make anything this cool again, and that was so crazy and so wrong.”

SZA had initially recorded “Consideration” for her 2017 album Ctrl and even produced a music video for the song, she informed the magazine. However, just days before its launch, she says Rihanna requested the song for Anti and arrangements were made without SZA’s knowledge. “It was already done,” the Grammy recipient remembered. “Whatever the conversation, label-wise, was already done. It was just a matter of accepting.”

“[The song] was like the centerpiece to my album at the time,” she further explained. “And for her, it was just, like, part of her album. And I was like, ‘Please, no.’”

“Consideration” eventually became the introductory track on Anti, with SZA credited as a guest artist whose vocals can be heard echoing the song’s chorus amidst Rihanna’s verses. The publicity she received from this unexpected turn of events proved to be a hidden blessing, despite the initial difficulty in accepting it.

“Now I’m so glad that that happened, and that it didn’t cost me anything,” SZA expressed. “If anything, I gained a bunch from it. And I thank God that I made cool music outside of that. I don’t know why I just really thought my creativity would just stop, and this was the pinnacle of what I could make.”

Jamie Foxx Sued for Alleged Sexual Assault at NYC Bar in 2015

A lawsuit filed on Wednesday accuses Jamie Foxx of sexually assaulting a woman at a New York rooftop bar in 2015.

The suit, which identifies the woman as Jane Doe, claims that Foxx dragged her to a hidden spot of the Catch NYC rooftop lounge, where he fondled her breasts and touched her genitals without her consent.

The suit says that the woman and a friend were sitting at a table next to Foxx and Mark Birnbaum, the bar’s owner. Around 1 a.m., the friend got up and requested a photo with Foxx.

Foxx consented, and they snapped a few photos. Foxx then started flattering the plaintiff, the suit says, telling her “Wow, you have that super model body” and “You smell so good.” He also said she resembled Gabrielle Union, according to the suit. She says that he then grabbed her arm and pulled her to a more isolated area of the rooftop, where he molested her breasts under her crop top. The suit says that she was surprised and attempted to get away, but that Foxx then shoved his hands into her pants and “put his fingers on and in Plaintiff’s vagina and anus.”

The suit claims that a security guard saw the molestation but did nothing. The woman’s friend then located her, and Foxx ceased touching her and left.

The lawsuit demands damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, anxiety and humiliation. It claims that the woman was in pain and had to get medical help because of the assault.

The lawsuit also holds Birnbaum and Catch NYC responsible, claiming that they facilitated the assault and neglected to properly oversee their staff.

The suit is among many filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which created a one-year opportunity to file sexual abuse lawsuits that would otherwise be time-barred. The cutoff date to file such lawsuits is Thursday.

Mariah Carey Sued for $20 Million by Country Singer over “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, Again!

The country singer Andy Stone, also known as Vince Vance, has revived his $20 million lawsuit against Mariah Carey for allegedly copying his song “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. Stone claims he wrote the original version of the song with Troy Powers in 1988 and recorded it in Nashville in 1989. He says his song was popular in 1993 and even performed at the White House in 1994.

Carey released her own song with the same title in 1994, co-written with Walter Afanasieff, and it became a huge hit that is played every year during the holiday season. Stone and Powers argue that Carey’s song is too similar to theirs in terms of lyrics, melody, harmony and rhythm. They say both songs have a female narrator who rejects material gifts and only wants her lover for Christmas.

Stone’s lawyer Douglas M. Schmidt tells Rolling Stone that about 50 percent of the words are the same, in almost the same order, and that he thinks his client has a strong case. He says they tried to settle with Carey, Afanasieff and Sony, but they failed to reach an agreement. So, they decided to file the lawsuit again in Los Angeles after dropping it in New Orleans due to the wrong venue.

The lawsuit says that the phrase “all I want for Christmas is you” was distinctive in 1988 and that the combination of the chord progression and the hook was a clone of Stone’s work. It also says that Carey and Afanasieff must have heard Stone’s song before they wrote theirs.

One lawyer said last year that the lawsuit might have a hard time because there are many other songs with the same title.

Check out both songs and tell us in the comments what you think:

Celebrating Chuck Berry's Birthday and Carl Sagan's Timeless Tribute, Heard Across the Universe

Chuck Berry, the legendary rock and roll pioneer, celebrated his 60th birthday on October 18, 1986. Among the many tributes and congratulations he received, one stood out for its cosmic significance. It was a letter from Carl Sagan, the renowned astronomer and science communicator, who informed Berry that his music had been sent to the stars.

Sagan was the chairman of a committee that selected the contents of the Voyager Golden Records, two identical phonograph records that were attached to NASA’s Voyager spacecrafts, launched in 1977. The records contain sounds and images that represent the diversity of life and culture on Earth, intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form who may find them. The records are expected to last for at least a billion years, as they travel through interstellar space.

Among the 27 musical selections from different cultures and eras, one song was chosen to represent rock and roll: “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry. Sagan wrote in his letter: “When they tell you your music will live forever, you can usually be sure they’re exaggerating. But Johnny B. Goode is on the Voyager interstellar records attached to NASA’s Voyager spacecraft - now two billion miles from Earth and bound for the stars.

Sagan also expressed his admiration for Berry’s music, which he described as “the music of the human species”.

Berry was touched by Sagan’s letter, and replied: “I was so surprised and honored when I received your letter informing me of what you had done to make my song ‘Johnny B. Goode’ a part of history forever.

Berry’s music has influenced generations of musicians and fans, and has been recognized as one of the greatest achievements of American culture. But perhaps his greatest legacy is that his music has transcended the boundaries of time and space, and has reached out to the unknown wonders of the universe.

Rudolph Isley, a Founding Member of The Isley Brothers, Dies at 84

Rudolph Isley, a singer and one of the original members of the legendary R&B and soul group The Isley Brothers, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at his home in Illinois. He was 84 years old. The cause of his death has not been officially confirmed, but some sources say he suffered a heart attack.

Rudolph was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1939. He began singing in his church choir as a child and formed The Isley Brothers with his brothers Ronald, O’Kelly, and Vernon in the early 1950s. The group moved to New York after Vernon died in a car accident and signed with RCA Records. They released their first hit song, “Shout”, in 1959, which became a classic anthem for generations of music fans. Rudolph sang lead vocals on some of their songs, such as “Don’t Be Jealous” and “I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door”.

The Isley Brothers were one of the most influential and successful groups in music history, with a career that spanned over six decades. They experimented with different genres, such as rock, funk, disco, and hip hop, and collaborated with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and R. Kelly. They had numerous chart-topping songs, such as “Twist & Shout”, “This Old Heart of Mine”, “It’s Your Thing”, “That Lady”, “Between the Sheets”, and “Contagious”. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Rudolph left the group in 1989 to pursue his calling as a Christian minister. He founded the Rudolph Isley Ministries and preached the gospel around the world. He reunited with his brothers occasionally for special events and performances. He is survived by his wife Elaine, his children, his grandchildren, and his brother Ronald. He will be remembered as a pioneer and a legend in the music industry.

Tyrese $1Mil Lawsuit Against Home Depot For Racism Falls Apart With Release of Surveillance Footage

Home Depot has denied the allegations of racism made by actor and singer Tyrese Gibson in his lawsuit against them, which seeks $1 million in damages. Home Depot says they have video evidence to support their version of events.

According to TMZ, which obtained the legal documents filed by Home Depot, the dispute started when Tyrese brought a bunch of items to the cash register, where the cashier scanned them. Home Depot says Tyrese then left the register for more shopping, staying away for 25 minutes and forcing the cashier to cancel his transaction.

Tyrese claims that a computer glitch caused the delay and that he felt uncomfortable when people recognized him because of the delay. He says he told the cashier to let his two helpers finish the purchase with his credit card and that she agreed. He also says he was told he could wait outside and she would complete the transaction.

Home Depot says their surveillance shows that Tyrese did not speak face-to-face with any of their cashiers. They also say that when Tyrese called a cashier on FaceTime from outside the store and tried to authorize his transaction, the cashier asked him to come back into the store and show his ID in person. Home Depot says that FaceTime was not enough and that they followed their standard policy.

Home Depot says that Tyrese came back into the store and had a heated argument with the cashier, which ended with him showing his ID and completing his transaction.

Tyrese told TMZ that he was a loyal customer of Home Depot and that the store was like his Disneyland. He claims he has spent nearly $10 million at Home Depot over 20 years. Home Depot says they don't know how long he has been shopping there or how much he has spent.