On April 26, we learned that Pras Michel, rapper and former member of musical group The Fugees, had been found guilty of 10 criminal counts. According to The Los Angeles Times, Michel is now planning to sue 50 Cent and Kyrie Irving for defamation after they called him a “rat” and “informant,” respectively.
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Former Fugees Rapper Pras Michel To Sue 50 Cent And Kyrie Irving For Defamation After Calling Him A ‘Rat’ And ‘FBI Informant’
Prior to his criminal hearing in late April, Pras Michel, real name Prakazrel Samuel Michel, was accused of helping Malaysian businessman Jho Low and the Chinese government gain access to US officials — including Barack Obama. He was also accused of defrauding the US, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, and witness tampering.
In his criminal hearing, Michel testified and claimed Low paid him $20 million in 2012 with the intention of Michel helping Low get a photo with then-President Obama. It was noted that $800,000 of that sum was to be used to support Obama’s reelection campaign via multiple donors.
Michel’s defense team argued that their client only wanted to make money and he ended up finding himself in some serious trouble after trying his hand at international politics.
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A jury in Michel’s criminal case then found him guilty of conspiracy, concealment of material facts, making false entries in records, witness tampering, and serving as an unregistered agent of a foreign power. It was reported that Michel could face up to 20 years in prison.
Since the verdict, The Los Angeles Times published a report on Wednesday (May 10), claiming that Michel is preparing a defamation lawsuit against 50 Cent, Kyrie Irving and Rolling Stone over the celebrities’ social media posts and the publication’s news article that alleged that he was an informant for the FBI.
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Now, an attorney for the rapper is said to have sent out letters to 50 Cent, Irving and Rolling Stone, notifying them of the defamatory statements they released — including the words: “rat,” “FBI informant” and “government informant,” respectively.
The Times said in the letters they obtained, Michel’s team, headed by Jonathan Noah Schwartz, is planning to sue in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is also reported that due to the comments made by the celebrities and the news publication, Michel lost out on business deals and experienced a revenue loss from his music.
In a letter sent to Rolling Stone, Schwartz reportedly wrote, “It is and was absolutely and demonstrably false for You to publish that Michel was a ‘government informant. Labeling a hip-hop artist such as Michel, the reputation of whom is dependent upon ‘street credibility’ and not being a ‘snitch,’ a ‘government informant’ most certainly tends to subject said hip-hop artist to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt and/or disgrace, along with injury in their trade or profession.”
Another spokesperson for Michel, Erica Dumas, reportedly said in statement email to The Times, “The Rolling Stone article resulted in the false and defamatory label being made in hundreds of viral local, national, and international media news stories and blog posts that have harmed the business interests, reputations … of Pras and attorney Kenner. It is unacceptable for any media outlet to publish unfounded and false allegations that can damage the businesses and reputations of individuals and put them at risk.”
Dumas reportedly criticized 50 Cent’s “rat” comment and Irving’s “FBI informant” tweet, adding that it put Michel and Kenner’s “safety at risk.”
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