Private conversations about an alleged backstage altercation have become the latest point of contention in Nicki Minaj's legal battle with her former employee, Brandon Garrett. The rapper is refusing to turn over certain text messages requested by Garrett, who sued her in 2025 over allegations that she physically assaulted him during her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. However, her objections aren't limited to privacy concerns. She maintains that some of the requested messages don't exist.
Court documents reviewed by TMZ show that Garrett is seeking communications Minaj exchanged with other people about his employment between January and April 2024. He also wants messages discussing the alleged assault, which he claims occurred backstage at her Detroit concert that April. Minaj maintains that she has no messages about the incident and has objected to other requests as overly broad.
The disagreement adds to an already contentious discovery process. Garrett previously accused Minaj and her company, Pink Personality Inc., of failing to adequately respond to questions about the incident, arguing the delays interfered with his ability to pursue the lawsuit.
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Nicki Minaj's Former Employee Claims She Assaulted Him Backstage
The lawsuit stems from an alleged confrontation at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena on April 21, 2024. Garrett, who worked as a day-to-day manager during the tour, claims Minaj became furious after learning that he had asked another employee to collect her prescription medication. In his complaint, Garrett alleged that Minaj threatened him during the confrontation, telling him, "You're a dead man walking." He also accused the rapper of striking him in the face hard enough to knock off his hat before hitting his wrist. Garrett claims he subsequently locked himself in a bathroom because he feared for his safety.
Minaj's attorney at the time, Judd Burstein, rejected the allegations, describing the lawsuit as "completely false and frivolous." In January 2025, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office also declined to pursue criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence and requesting further investigation from Detroit police.
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The civil case has since developed its own fight over access to evidence. In April, Garrett accused Minaj's representatives of providing inadequate answers to written questions and sought $3,900 in legal expenses. Her attorneys countered that they supplied responses in July and additional information in September. They also argued that Garrett's earlier requests for court intervention were outdated.
