Busta Rhymes calls assault lawsuit by ex-assistant ‘an attempted shake-down’ | Rap

Busta Rhymes has been accused of bodily assault and an abusive work atmosphere by his former assistant.The 53-year-old rapper, whose actual title is Trevor Smith, is the main focus of a lawsuit filed by Dashiel Gables who claims he was punched within the face for being on the telephone in January.On the time Rhymes turned himself in and earlier this week, Gables filed an motion alleging wage and hour violations, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery.In an announcement despatched to the Guardian, Rhymes responded: “I’ve been made conscious of the claims made by Dashiel Gables, and I utterly and categorically deny these allegations. For a really temporary interval, Dashiel assisted me, however it didn’t work out. Apparently, Dashiel has determined to answer being let go by manufacturing claims towards me in an try to assault and injury my status. I sit up for proving these allegations false, and am getting ready a countersuit, which I’m assured will expose this for what it’s – an tried shake-down by a disgruntled former assistant. Finally, I’m sure the reality will prevail.”Gables began working for Rhymes in 2024 for $200 a day and through his tenure, claims that the star would degrade him, scream and spit at him and make unreasonable calls for to himself and different staff, usually making him work 18-hour days with out extra time.In January 2025, Gables alleges that whereas within the foyer of the rapper’s residence, the pair had been engaged in an argument. Gables’ daughter known as and he ignored it, sending her a textual content message as an alternative. Rhymes reportedly screamed at him after which punched him twice.Gables was hospitalised and filed a police report and Rhymes confronted three assault expenses. “Whereas plaintiff tolerated a substantial amount of abuse whereas working for Busta Rhymes, he couldn’t tolerate the repeated bodily assault and was unable to return to work,” the lawsuit reads.He then claims on account of the assault and the police report, he was “frozen out of the hip-hop music business” and faces “substantial future misplaced wage damages” because of this.“I labored my coronary heart out for Busta,” Gables stated in an announcement despatched to the Guardian. “Lengthy hours, day and evening, weekends, you title it. He bullied me from day one. He repeatedly insulted me, known as me names and slurs, screamed at me in entrance of different folks … However I caught round, as a result of I wanted the work and I assumed issues would get higher. However as an alternative, he punched me twice within the face.”In 2008, Rhymes pleaded responsible to expenses of assault and drink-driving after he was accused of beating and kicking his former driver throughout a pay dispute whereas additionally attacking a fan at a pageant.In 2015, he was additionally arrested for throwing a drink at a fitness center worker.Rhymes, whose hits embrace Gimme Some Extra and Break Ya Neck, just lately made an look in The Bare Gun reboot and was honoured with a star on the Hollywood stroll of fame.