Latest news with #coercion
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fat Joe claps back against 'disgusting lies' amid allegations of coercion, sex with minors
Rapper Fat Joe took a stand on social media against allegations of coercion, intimidation and sex with minors that emerged last week in a lawsuit filed by his former hype man. The Bronx native (birth name Joseph Cartagena) broke his silence Wednesday in a statement on Instagram informing followers that he has "been tested the last few months" with recent deaths in his family — and now legal woes. The 54-year-old musician said he is "fighting against these disgusting lies" about his alleged behavior and promised, "I will not break and I will NEVER back down." Terrance "T.A." Dixon filed a federal lawsuit against his former employer last week, accusing Fat Joe of underpayment, swindling him out of pay for his contribution to album tracks, ditching him in foreign countries without money or transportation home and running a criminal organization built on intimidation and violence. The lawsuit also alleges that Fat Joe forced the hype man into approximately 4,000 sex acts with women in front of him and his team and accuses the rapper of having sexual relationships with girls who were 15 and 16. Read more: Fat Joe accused of coercion, intimidation, sex with minors in ex-hype man's lawsuit Fat Joe in his statement railed against people in his close circles who "take my love and kindness for weakness" and claimed that "people steal from me, grow jealous of me, lie on me." He said ultimately he and his family face the fallout of betrayal. The "All the Way Up" rapper did not name Dixon or explicitly relay the allegations against him but instead dwelled on how haters "decide to go after one of the things you value the most — your reputation," including by making up "the most insane stories" as retaliation and taking their grievances to court. He said he won't be shaken down. "I've never let anyone on the streets extort me, so how would I ever let a crooked attorney and coward ex-hype man extort me?? I'm from the Bronx!" he said. Fat Joe spoke out after his attorney Joe Tacopina dismissed Dixon's allegations as 'complete fabrications." In April, the rapper sued Dixon for alleged slander after the former hype man accused him on social media of flying a 16-year-old across state lines for sex — hence the suggestion of retaliation. Read more: Smokey Robinson's accusers blast his $500-million countersuit as 'attempt to silence and intimidate' Dixon's attorney Tyrone Blackburn was also subject to Fat Joe's ire as the rapper promised "we will finish you in court." New York police arrested Blackburn on Wednesday; he was accused of hitting a process server with his car in New York City and booked on suspicion of assault, NBC News reported. Blackburn's lawyer told XXL the arrest seemed to be "somewhat of a setup." Fat Joe concluded his Instagram statement by asserting that the era of attorneys leveraging their "law license as a badge to extort people and destroy families with no evidence is over!! "I'm not the one!! You've messed with the wrong one this time!!" Times assistant editor Christie D'Zurilla contributed to this report. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fat Joe Sued For $20M By Ex-Hypeman Alleging Sex Acts With Minors, Psychological Coercion, And More
Terrance 'T.A.' Dixon, longtime hype man for Fat Joe, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Bronx rapper of an array of egregious misconduct — including underage sexual exploitation, coercion, financial fraud, and violent intimidation. The suit comes after the 'Lean Back' rapper filed a lawsuit against Dixon in April for extortion after the defendant publicly accused Joe of being a 'pedophile' and cheating on his wife with reality TV star Erica Mena. According to Variety, the 157-page complaint, filed Thursday (June 20) in New York, outlines years of alleged abuse and manipulation that Dixon says unfolded behind the scenes while he supported Fat Joe on and off stage. Dixon is seeking $20,000,000 in damages, asserting that his former boss — real name, Joseph Antonio Cartagena — engaged in 'coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.' The suit alleges that despite his input as a lyricist, vocalist, and performer on tracks like 'Congratulations,' 'Ice Cream,' and 'Money Over Bi**hes,' Dixon was uncredited and unpaid. Even more disturbing are Dixon's claims that Fat Joe engaged in sexual activity with underage girls, referencing three specific Jane Does — one of whom was allegedly flown to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic in exchange for cash, clothes, and phone bills. The suit claims that Dixon 'personally witnessed [Fat Joe] engage in sexual relations with children who were fifteen and sixteen years old.' According to the legal documents, Minor Doe 2 is described as a Caucasian female and a non-U.S. citizen who allegedly began a sexual relationship with the defendant at age 15 following a concert overseas. The suit claims Fat Joe flew her to New York City and Miami on multiple occasions. The documents further allege that due to Minor Doe 2's adolescent and undeveloped body, the defendant paid for her to undergo a Brazilian Butt Lift. Allegedly, she eventually cut ties with him and is now reportedly married to a professional athlete. Meanwhile, Minor Doe 3 is described as a Latina female who allegedly met the defendant when she was 15, approaching her 16th birthday. According to Dixon's lawsuit, Joe was allegedly infatuated with Minor Doe 3 to the point of considering leaving his wife. The filing claims he covered all of her expenses, flew her out to various tour stops overseas, and even set her up in a Florida condo just blocks away from the home he shared with his wife. In a recorded conversation cited in the complaint, Minor Doe 3 and her then-15-year-old cousin reportedly described to Dixon how disturbing and inappropriate it was for Joe to allegedly have been fixated on underage girls. The lawsuit includes accusations of orchestrated orgies, coerced sexual acts under surveillance, and threats of retaliation to witnesses — including alleged messages like 'You love your family, right?' and 'We let you live.' Dixon is represented by Tyrone Blackburn, the same attorney leading civil litigation against Sean 'Diddy' Combs. In response, Fat Joe's attorney Joe Tacopina vehemently denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit an 'act of retaliation' and part of a coordinated attempt to extort the rapper. Tacopina says law enforcement is already aware of the 'extortionate demand' and vowed to hold Dixon and Blackburn accountable. 'The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure,' Tacopina stated. 'Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated.' The suit comes just months after Fat Joe sued Dixon in April, claiming the former hypeman defamed him online and tried to shake him down for a settlement. According to Variety, Dixon thinks his lawsuit is the only way to hold the rapper accountable, saying, 'This is the right way to fight Joe — through the system. You can't fight him no other way. Joe think he's a god. Joe thinks he's untouchable.' Dixon has requested a jury trial. More from Fat Joe Files Extortion Lawsuit Against Former Hypeman After 'Pedophile' Claims Fat Joe, Jadakiss, REFORM Alliance, And Sei Less Host Father's Day Lunch For Families Impacted By Criminal Justice System Jadakiss Reflects On The Lox, Dipset 'Verzuz' Battle: "I Was Out Of My Mind"
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
MP offered private ambulance to attend assisted dying vote
Northern Irish MP Sorcha Eastwood, a vocal opponent of the assisted dying bill, was initially unable to attend a critical Westminster vote due to a Covid -19 infection. An entrepreneur offered to transport Eastwood via private ambulance if she tested negative, and she later indicated she would travel if her tests allowed. The assisted dying bill faces a very close vote, with four Labour MPs announcing a switch from supporting to opposing the legislation shortly before the vote. Over 60 disability organizations and public polling raised significant concerns about the bill's impact on people with learning disabilities, citing fears of coercion and issues with informed consent. The prime minister rejected calls for a delay to the vote, and the bill's proponent warned that rejection could mean a decade-long wait for the issue to be debated again.
Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
MPs fight to criminalise pills-by-post abortions
MPs are seeking a law change to ban the unsupervised use of abortion 'pills by post' to prevent women being coerced into terminations. Nearly 30 MPs including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory party leader, are backing an amendment to the Government's policing Bill which would crack down on the pills-by-post scheme to prevent it being abused by coercive partners or result in mistaken terminations. The postal scheme enables women who are fewer than 10 weeks pregnant to access abortion medication after a phone or video consultation with a doctor. It was introduced in the pandemic to ensure women could continue to access terminations during early pregnancy. The scheme was made permanent in March 2022. Critics have said the removal of the requirement for an in-person medical appointment leaves the process open to abuse. Last year, a 40-year old man from Norfolk was jailed for 12 years for administering pills obtained by post to a woman without her knowledge after he crushed up the medication in a glass of orange juice. Stuart Worby's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered a miscarriage in hospital within hours of the assault, which happened in 2022. Worby obtained the medication from a friend, who posed as a woman in need of an abortion. Require medical checks Caroline Johnson, a Tory MP, is tabling an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which would bar a woman from securing abortion pills for use at home without a prior in-person appointment with a doctor or appropriate medical professional. This would allow medics to check for any health risks, the woman's gestational age and the possibility of a coerced abortion. The move has already been backed by 27 MPs across six political parties and, according to new polling, has support from the public. Two-thirds of women backed a return to in-person appointments with 4 per cent in favour of the status quo, according to a poll of 2,103 adults by Whitestone Insight. Prevent 'coerced or dangerous abortions' Ms Johnson said: 'Since its introduction, the safeguarding risks caused by the 'pills by post' scheme have been evident, with one man able to obtain pills by a third party to induce a woman to have an abortion against her will or knowledge. 'Other women have taken the pills later in pregnancy, in some cases because they were mistaken about their gestation, putting themselves in danger. 'Women would continue to be able to take abortion pills at home but, in line with public support, my amendment would reinstate prior in-person consultations so medical professionals are able to accurately assess a woman's gestational age, any health risks and the risk of coercion before abortion pills can be prescribed. 'This would protect women and prevent further cases of coerced or dangerous abortions arising as a result of the pills by post scheme.' Cross-party support Among MPs backing the law change alongside Sir Iain are Tim Farron, the former Lib Dem leader; Neil O'Brien, the former health minister; Sir Edward Leigh, the Father of the House; Bob Blackman, the chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee; Mary Glindon, the former Labour opposition whip and Rachael Maskell, the former health and social care select committee member and Labour shadow minister. Catherine Robinson, of the pro-life group Right to Life UK, said: 'The controversial amendment that made at-home abortions permanent passed by a razor-thin margin of just 27 votes. A large number of MPs raised serious concerns about the negative impact these schemes would have on women. Since then, we have seen these concerns tragically borne out.' Ms Robinson noted the case of Carla Foster, who was jailed in 2023 for taking abortion pills after the legal cut-off time during lockdown. She said: 'Women such as Carla Foster have performed at-home abortions well beyond the 24-week time limit, putting their health at serious risk. 'Had Carla Foster been given an in-person consultation, where her gestation could have been accurately determined, she would not have been able to access abortion pills, and this tragic case would have been prevented. 'The solution is clear. We urgently need to reinstate in-person appointments. 'This simple safeguard would prevent women's lives from being put at risk from self-administered late-term abortions, a danger that would be exacerbated if abortion were 'decriminalised' right up to birth.'
New York Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Sean Combs's Ex-Girlfriend to Resume Testimony About Sex Under Duress
A former girlfriend of Sean Combs is set to retake the stand on Monday at his federal trial to continue her testimony about a series of sex marathons with male prostitutes, which she said she felt pressured to continue because Mr. Combs was funding her livelihood. As the trial enters its fifth week, prosecutors are expected to drill down on a key part of their sex-trafficking case: allegations of financial coercion. The former girlfriend, who is known in court by the pseudonym Jane, spent more than seven hours last week testifying about her tumultuous relationship with the music mogul, which started in 2021 and continued until his arrest in 2024. Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and his lawyers have denied that the sex at the center of the case was ever coercive. Jane testified last week that in an effort to fulfill her boyfriend's fantasies, she began to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters with a succession of hired men that the couple called 'debauchery' or 'hotel nights.' Her account of the sex marathons — which could last for days and typically involved Mr. Combs watching and masturbating — aligned with the 'freak-offs' described by Casandra Ventura, another former girlfriend who testified at the start of the case. The pattern of 'hotel nights' left Jane feeling used, exhausted and at times sick, she testified. But Mr. Combs was dismissive when she voiced her reluctance, she said, and she continued out of a desire to please him. At times, she arranged to hire certain 'entertainers' herself so she could choose the men involved, she testified. The dynamic shifted in 2023, when Mr. Combs began paying her $10,000-a-month rent. Jane said she feared losing her home if she did not comply. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
