Ne-Yo Fights Back With Lawsuit Over R. Kelly Tour Firing
Singersroom News Posted on 01/02/08
Bookmark
& Share this headline:
R&B singer Ne-Yo sued the promoter of the R. Kelly Double Up tour for firing him after two shows as the opening act, claiming that the audience and the critics liked him better, according to court papers obtained on Wednesday.
Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Smith, and Compound Touring Inc. filed the suit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Georgia-based Rowe Entertainment Inc., alleging breach of contract and violation of the right of publicity.
Compound Touring and Smith are seeking unspecified damages, but the suit maintains he was to be paid $785,000 for 25 shows opening for Kelly's "Double-Up Tour" that began Nov. 14 and is still owed $735,000.
Smith was allowed to perform during the Nov. 14 and 15 tour dates, then was fired prior to the scheduled Nov. 19 show, according to the suit.
"Plaintiffs ... allege ... that an unknown representative of R. Kelly urged Rowe to terminate Smith from the tour given the audience's and critics' more favorable reaction to Smith than the reaction to R. Kelly," the suit states.
Compound Touring spent "substantial monies in preparation for the tour and turned down other touring and performance opportunities for Smith in reliance on Rowe's agreement that Smith would perform on the tour," according to the suit.
Compound Touring, based in Los Angeles, provides the services of Smith for concert tours.
I think thats f***ed up. Im sure they had a contract and i would have sued too. everyone loves Ne-yo im sure that wasn't the real reason why he fired him. Ne-yo ur great keep up the good work
Kim
1/3/2008 4:42:48 PM
What a turn of events for such talented entertainers. The public will have the truth when all is presented. The media is spinning
disinformation as usual.
freakygrl
1/3/2008 1:58:20 PM
it seems like rkelly afraid of competion...lol..
nakeemah martin
1/3/2008 11:53:56 AM
i think that all this that all of yall doin to each other is so foolish and if they liked neyo so wat u didnt have tp take him off and i think that was wrong.ps i love neyo so much i am ya biggggggggest fan i know all about you and i can have a test on you and i well passs every question and please let me have a test on u ............................
and keyshia u are my baby i love u girl so m,uch....................................................
kelly baby i love u too
Stachia
1/3/2008 8:53:19 AM
this whole s*** is stupid
Lisa
1/2/2008 5:04:01 PM
This isn't true is it?
Micki
1/2/2008 4:41:02 PM
I do believe this to be true. This is so R. Kelly. Even though I'm a fan of his, remember how he played Jay Z when they were on tour together- the crowds went nuts over Jay, next thing you know he's no longer on tour. The R has no reason to hate, but he does.
T.A. Jones
1/2/2008 3:49:24 PM
P.S. Besides, I personally feel that Ne-Yo has proven himself beyond a doubt to be perfectly capable of carrying a tour all his own, with hot, new artists opening his shows for him. I'm sure many will agree to this point, and Hater-ation is definitely one sure sign of an artist being "ON FIRE!!!" Do yo' thang, Ne-Yo.... Handle your business, and don't sweat the small stuff. Clear your claendar for great things, and soon this situation will seem as petty as it really is. Be the Star you are, and shine....!
T.A. Jones
1/2/2008 3:34:30 PM
That's the way it is in Show Biz! Either you are the "It" man, or you're not! It's a nasty business! We cannot stay young forever, no matter how hard we try. I am a huge R. fan, and I must admit, I am also a fan of Ne-Yo.... Not to the point that I like him better as an artist. It could someday come to that, but surely, that's no valid reason to fire that man from the tour.... There must be something we haven't heard. I hope the R. camp would not be haters to that degree....
Vincent
1/2/2008 3:20:47 PM
I think we should all wait until all the facts are out on this case. I honestly do not believe that Keyshia Cole had anything to do with Ne-Yo being fired from the tour. Ne-Yo says that R-Kelly was being Selfish and complained that audience and critics were big-upping him rather than the R. That sounds more logical than Keyshia Cole complaining. She seems very un-selfish and can definitely hold her own for any audience, as well as Ne-Yo. I can see R getting upset that this new guy Ne-Yo is getting more props from the audience than him and being upset about that... Ne-Yo is a great act, dancer, song writer and definitely an excellent singer. The same goes for Keyshia Cole! These are my two FAVORITE artists right now and I'm sure a lot of people will agree with that.
Gabe
1/2/2008 2:55:17 PM
Man all that sounds crazy! Ne-Yo got kicked off b/c Keisha Cole felt that he was getting more attention than she so she made R.Kelly's group decide him or her & they chose her so Ne-Yo had to go. He should not make it seem like something its not. Y would Ne-Yo get more attention than R. Kelly?
