Rapper Nicki Minaj’s signature over-the-top hair seems to be the cause of major legal drama.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Minaj is being sued by her former wig stylist, Terrence Davidson, for allegedly taking his designs, selling and licensing them without giving him a share of the profit.
Davidson is requesting $30 million in damages, claiming that his designs, including the “pink upper bun wig”, “superbass wig” and “faux fur wig”, are a huge part of the 31-year-old rapper’s success.
Davidson is also claiming that Minaj, who’s real name is Onika Maraj, and her management team discouraged him from signing on for a multimillion-dollar reality show deal, convincing him that it would damage his relationship with Minaj.
Legal documents filed at an Atlanta courthouse on Friday reveal that Davidson says his designs for the rapper were “fresh, unique and highly distinguishable.”
The lawsuit also claims that in September of 2010 Davidson created several pink wigs, a style that has become a trademark for Minaj, to wear in her performance at the MTV VMAs preshow. He says that he also created numerous wig creations that she wore to high-profile events and performances.
Nicki Minaj is now selling her own line of wigs; Davidson says that he was cut out of “the wig venture” as she pursued it on her own.
Davidson’s attorney Christopher Chestnut says, “Her lawyers may complicate it but we don’t need to get into intellectual-property law. This is basic American morality. Nicki Minaj lied to this man and cheated him.”