T.I. sued for defamation amid sexual assault allegations

Sabrina Peterson says she was defamed by the rapper-actor and his wife, Xscape singer Tiny, after she said on social media that he’d pulled a gun on her.

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Sabrina Peterson says she was defamed by the rapper-actor and his wife, Xscape singer Tiny, after she said on social media that he’d pulled a gun on her.

Rapper-actor T.I. and his wife are being sued for defamation amid claims that they drugged and sexually assaulted multiple women, though the two situations are unrelated.

Sabrina Peterson on Monday sued the couple (whose legal names are Clifford and Tameka Harris), along with Shekinah Jones, a hairstylist who has appeared on their reality television series.

Peterson alleges that T.I. pulled a gun on her and threatened to kill her after she got into an altercation with his assistant. She posted about it on social media in January and she alleges she was defamed by their responses to it.

Tiny, a singer and member of R&B group Xscape, responded in an Instagram post that showed a picture of Peterson’s 8-year-old son and said Peterson should stop harassing her family and get help. Then Anderson posted an instagram video that said Peterson had been sexually involved with both T.I. and Tiny. The couple also issued a joint statement denying the “egregiously appalling allegations,” and T.I. posted an 8-minute video that denies Peterson’s claims as well as allegations that he drugged and raped women.

Peterson says she’s been harassed as a result of their responses, and she’s suing for defamation, invasion of privacy,  and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims.

The Harrises’ attorney Andrew Brettler of Lavely & Singer on Monday sent The Hollywood Reporter a statement in response to the suit. “Ms. Peterson is the definition of ‘libel proof,’” he said. “She has a lengthy rap sheet for crimes involving dishonesty and violence. Nothing our clients may have said about her is defamatory. Ultimately, not only will Peterson’s meritless lawsuit be dismissed, but also she will be responsible for paying the legal fees the Harrises will be forced to incur in connection with it.”

The suit comes on the heels of a Monday video press conference held by attorney Tyrone A. Blackburn, during which he said he’d asked authorities in California and Georgia to open criminal investigations on behalf of 11 victims (including Peterson) for alleged instances of sexual abuse, assault and harassment from 2005 to 2018.

The couple vehemently deny the allegations. Another attorney for the T.I. and Tiny, Steve Sadow, issued this statement in response to the claims made during the press conference: “Clifford (T.I.) and Tameka Harris deny in the strongest possible terms these unsubstantiated and baseless allegations. We are confident that if these claims are thoroughly and fairly investigated, no charges will be forthcoming. These allegations are nothing more than the continuation of a sordid shakedown campaign that began on social media. The Harrises implore everyone not to be taken in by these obvious attempts to manipulate the press and misuse the justice system.”