The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that it has denied a warrant request in connection with allegations that rapper Nicki Minaj assaulted her former employee, Brandon Garrett, after a concert at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Detroit Police Department had submitted the request as part of its investigation into the alleged incident, which occurred on April 21, 2024, following Minaj’s performance on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour.
According to the WCPO, the request was denied due to “insufficient evidence to prove that a crime has been committed.”
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office has requested further investigation by Detroit police.
The lawsuit accuses the artist of assault, battery, and emotional distress. Garrett alleges that Minaj struck him backstage at Little Caesars Arena after he returned from running an errand for her.
Garrett claims Minaj became angry when she learned he had sent another employee to pick up her prescription, accusing him of neglecting his duties. Garrett alleges that Minaj cursed at him, made threatening statements, and slapped him across the face, causing his hat to fly off. He also claims she struck him a second time on the wrist and that members of Minaj’s team surrounded him, leaving him “incredibly scared.”
Garrett’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, seeks a jury trial and claims Minaj’s actions caused him significant emotional and physical harm. Garrett, 40, of Sun Valley, Calif., has also filed a civil lawsuit against Minaj, whose legal name is Onika Maraj-Petty, in L.A.
The WCPO’s decision not to authorize charges in Detroit does not affect the ongoing civil lawsuit. Detroit police have not commented on the additional investigative steps requested by the prosecutor’s office.
Minaj, 42, has not publicly addressed the incident. Her Pink Friday 2 World Tour included a series of high-profile performances, with the Detroit stop marking a highlight of the tour.
As the case develops, the focus remains on whether further investigation by Detroit police will yield new evidence and whether the civil case in Los Angeles will proceed to trial.
