The star-studded suits that have been filed in the last few months have resulted in a treasure trove of legal showdowns. And it seems like the bigger the pop star, the more absurd the legal theatrics get.
In this post, we'll be posing important legal questions such as “Is it justifiable to sue a singer for kicking off their concert fashionably late?” As always, we'll leave it up to you to be the judge.
Material issue: Material Girl’s habitual tardiness
Living legend Madonna is known for being notoriously late to her concerts. Nevertheless, many of her fans are willing to forgive her trespasses because what she lacks in punctuality, she more than makes up for in showmanship. But two fans have had it with her tardiness.
In January, two audience members in one of her trio of Celebration Tour concerts in New York filed a class-action lawsuit against the pop singer for the show’s late start. The ticket holders, who are presumably no longer fans of the Queen of Pop, accused her and her team of false advertising and negligent misrepresentation.
According to their lawsuit, the show started at 10:30 p.m. instead of 8:30 p.m. as advertised on the tickets. This resulted in the concert ending at 1:00 a.m., which the suit alleged was enough to claim damages.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Madonna was sued for starting her concerts late. She has had to reschedule her shows in recent years due to health issues and other reasons.
But are there legitimate legal cases to be made against pop queens with zero sense of time?
While we could discuss the intricacies of entering into a contract, especially in scenarios like purchasing a concert ticket, alas, that would demand more words than we can afford in this instance. Madonna and her legal team likely have a valid excuse for any tardiness, with potential delays thoughtfully addressed in the terms and conditions of ticket purchases through Ticketmaster, the ticketing agency in question.
The only “damage” seems to be a later-than-usual finish time, typical of Madonna’s shows. Sure, the concertgoers stayed up past their bedtime, but that's just the price of seeing the Queen of Pop live.
A flashy legal jam involving a rap queen
Like many superstars, rapper Nicki Minaj must have a battalion of lawyers to protect her from myriad offenses, including copyright infringement, stealing beats from another artist’s song, and more. Before her recent online feud with another rapper (more on that below), Ms. Minaj added an item to her cadre of crimes: damaging expensive jewelry.
In November 2023, a jewelry store sued the “Anaconda” rapper for damaging the expensive pieces they lent her and accused her of returning them late. Nicki’s team borrowed at least 66 pieces of jewelry, which overall cost $26,000 and for which she and her team signed a contract.
Nicki denied the accusations. Her team went on to say that the lawsuit was designed to generate publicity and was nothing but an ordinary insurance claim.
Looks like this bling battle might be more costume jewelry than real diamonds.
“Hot Girl Summer” singer heats up the legal system
By this time, the rap beef between Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj has simmered down. Their spat, which spanned an entire weekend (though it felt like a whole month), brought one law to the forefront: Megan’s Law.
In Megan’s song "Hiss," a line referencing Megan's Law ignited controversy. The lyric, seemingly aimed at Nicki Minaj and family members with convictions related to harming minors, drew criticism from Richard Kanka. He's the father of Megan Kanka, the namesake of a law requiring individuals convicted of harming minors to register their whereabouts.
Kanka argues the lyric disrespects victims and trivializes his daughter's tragedy, which can potentially lead to legal action. While the song's intent remains unclear, it has sparked debates about freedom of expression and the sensitivities surrounding real-life tragedies involving minors.
This case raises the question, “Where does artistic license end and respectful expression begin?” Our advice to Ms. Thee Stallion: remember that even the hottest bars can land you in hot water.
AI nightmare attempts to ruin a pop star’s reputation
As one of today’s biggest pop stars, Taylor Swift must have already developed a thick skin against online bullies and critics. Although she’s widely adored globally, there are still some people who would go to great lengths to tarnish her reputation.
After several deepfaked images of her popped up online, news outlets reported that Taylor is considering taking legal action against the website responsible for publishing her digital doppelgangers.
In January, a group of senators introduced a bill that would criminalize the spread of AI-generated nonconsensual images. Taylor Swift's influence is so potent that even X owner Elon Musk took measures to ensure searches for AI-altered images of Taylor are banned on the social media platform.
Love her or hate her, Taylor's recent digital woes seem to have catalyzed positive change, pushing US senators to confront the eerie realm of deepfakes.
If you've missed out on the recent months’ carnival of celebrity lawsuits, we've got you covered. We’ve also got you covered if you find yourself in need of top-notch legal representation for your family law case in Washington State. Reach out to LaGrandeur, & Williams, your trusted partners in navigating family law. Visit our Renton law offices or drop us a message.