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Saturday, March 16, 2024 | Back issues
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Lil Wayne Demands $50M From Filmmakers

SAN FERNANDO (CN) - Hip hop singer Lil Wayne says a film company broke its promise to give him final approval before showing the Sundance Film Festival a movie about his life. The rapper demands $50 million in damages claiming Digerati Holdings showed the movie that depicts him using drugs and engaged in other "criminal" activities.

The rapper, whose given name is Dwayne Carter Jr., says Digerati gave him "sole right of final approval in connection with any scenes ... that might depict or describe any of his actions as criminal in nature or that might have any adverse effect on Lil Wayne's pending trials."

Carter is facing up to 15 years on felony gun charges in a trial scheduled to begin on April 20.

Carter says his manager twice demanded that Digerati remove scenes that implicated the rapper in criminal activities. When Digerati refused, he says he demanded Digerati's written commitment to keep the movie out of Sundance.

In his Superior Court complaint, Carter says he gave Digerati exclusive interviews in which he described his first sexual experience and talked about his drug use. He says he also handed over photos from throughout his life and talked his friends and family into participating in the movie.

Carter says he would not have given Digerati such access to his private life, or allowed crew members to shoot "potentially unapproved film footage" without the final approval clause.

He demands $50 million for lost sponsorships, harm to reputation, and possible complications in his criminal trial.

Defendants include Quincy Delight Jones III - the son of famous musical arranger Quincy Jones - and CEO of defendant QD3 Entertainment.

Carter is represented by William Briggs. The complaint was filed in L.A. Superior Court's North Central District.

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