Nicki Minaj Harassment Lawsuit By Kenneth Petty Rape Accuser Dismissed: Report

BY Erika Marie 2.5K Views
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Nicki Minaj, Kenneth Petty
Jennifer Hough sued Nicki on claims that she was being harassed and intimidated by the rapper.

It looks as if Nicki Minaj can now put one legal hurdle behind her. Jennifer Hough, the woman who accused Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty of raping her when she was a teen, sued Minaj back in August 2021 on allegations that she was harassing and intimidating her about the decades-old case. Petty took a plea deal and served prison time in connection with the 1990s case, but Hough recently claimed that Minaj and Petty were using their power and influence to intimidate her into silence.

The famous couple denied the allegations and on Wednesday (January 12), it was widely reported that Hough's lawsuit against Minaj has been dismissed.


According to Billboard, there has yet to be a reason shared why Nicki would no longer be named in the case, however, the allegations against "Petty are still pending." Additionally, it was stated that Hough could refile if she pleased. 

"The case against Nicki was voluntarily dismissed," Tyron Blackburn, Hough's attorney, told Billboard. "The case against Kenneth Petty is still ongoing. Stay tuned!” 

Back in September, Judd Burstein, counsel for the couple, called out Hough and her team by suggesting she was looking for a cash grab when they filed for a default judgment months ago.

“Believing that a celebrity with deep pockets, who is now married to Mr. Petty, would fear adverse publicity, plaintiff is attempting to extract money based on the 27 year old alleged incident,” said Burstein back in November 2021. “Plaintiff’s improper rush to obtain a default judgment against Mr. Petty and avoid resolution of this action on the merits further demonstrates that plaintiff is well aware that her claims lack merit.”

Watch Jennifer Hough's previous appearance on The Real where she shared her side of the story. Nicki seemingly reacted to this news by tweeting a unicorn emoji.


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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.