The tense legal battle between Nicki Minaj and her former tour assistant, Brandon Garrett, has hit another major flashpoint in court. The rap icon has formally opposed a request by the plaintiff to hand over private text messages as part of an ongoing civil lawsuit. Garrett accuses Minaj of physical assault and intimidation backstage during a stop on her hit Pink Friday 2 World Tour.
The legal showdown, stemming from an alleged 2024 altercation, is currently deep in the discovery phase. Both sides are exchanging sharp legal arguments concerning personal privacy, the scope of evidence requests, and the validity of the claims themselves.
The Text Message Feud: Privacy Battle or Nonexistent Evidence?
According to court documents recently reviewed by industry outlets, Brandon Garrett is seeking access to all written communications Nicki Minaj exchanged with third parties regarding his employment between January and April 2024. Furthermore, the plaintiff is requesting any text messages in which the artist or her inner circle discussed the alleged backstage assault in Detroit.
In response, legal counsel for the “Super Freaky Girl” hitmaker filed formal objections, calling the discovery requests overly broad, burdensome, and an invasion of privacy. However, the core of her defense remains unwavering: Nicki Minaj maintains that no such text messages exist because the alleged assault never happened.
- The Detroit Incident: The civil suit traces back to an alleged altercation on April 21, 2024, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Garrett, who served as a day-to-day manager during the tour, claims the rapper flew into a rage after learning he had asked another staff member to pick up her prescription medication.
- Serious Allegations: In his initial complaint, Garrett claims Minaj threatened him directly, telling him, “You’re a dead man walking.” He further alleges that the rapper struck him in the face with enough force to knock off his hat before hitting his wrist, forcing him to lock himself in a bathroom out of fear for his safety.
Discovery Disputes and No Criminal Charges
The fight over text messages is merely the latest chapter in a procedural war of attrition. Months prior, Garrett accused Nicki Minaj and her corporate entity, Pink Personality Inc., of stalling the lawsuit by providing inadequate answers to written interrogatories, even seeking $3,900 in legal sanctions. In turn, Minaj’s attorneys argued that they supplied proper responses in a timely manner and dismissed the plaintiff’s motions as outdated and baseless.
Despite the heavy media coverage and the serious nature of the civil claims, the case has failed to gain traction on the criminal front. In January 2025, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file criminal charges against the rap superstar, citing insufficient evidence and referring the matter back to Detroit police for further investigation.
From the outset, Nicki Minaj’s defense team has labeled Garrett’s lawsuit “completely false, frivolous, and financially motivated.” However, her refusal to hand over private personal communications shows that the civil fight remains far from over as her legal team continues to push for a total dismissal.
