Nicki Minaj avoids assault charges for ex-manager in Detroit as investigation continues

Prosecutors in Wayne County, Michigan have declined the Detroit Police Department’s request for an arrest warrant for singer Nicki Minaj in connection with an alleged assault on her former manager Brandon Garrett last April.

The Barbie World singer, 42, is not currently in jeopardy of being taken into custody in connection with the incident, as a spokesperson for the prosecution told TMZ Monday that there was ‘insufficient evidence’ of a crime to obtain a warrant.

Prosecutors told the outlet that the Detroit Police Department had asked for a warrant for the 12-time Grammy nominee, and were advised to continue to probe the allegations.

Garrett said in a civil lawsuit that the Trinidad and Tobago-born musical artist had physically assaulted him and threatened him while backstage after a concert in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena in April 2024.

In the documents obtained by the outlet, Garrett, who claims to be the rapper’s former manager, says he was ‘struck’ by the Super Freaky Girl songstress, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Minaj’s lawyer Judd Burstein slammed the lawsuit as ‘false and frivolous’ and said the music artist has not been served with a formal complaint. Burstein also suggested that Garrett was the rapper’s ‘ex-assistant’ and not a ‘former manager.’

Prosecutors in Wayne County, Michigan have declined the Detroit Police Department’s request for an arrest warrant for singer Nicki Minaj, 42, in connection with an alleged assault on her former manager Brandon Garrett last April. Minaj pictured in March of 2024 in NYC 

The Barbie World singer, 42, is not currently in jeopardy of being taken into custody in connection with the incident, pending further investigation. Pictured in 2023 in New Jersey

The alleged incident took place when Garrett was called to the Minaj’s dressing room about an errand he had been ordered to run. 

Garrett claims he was supposed to pick up prescriptions for Minaj, but instead he sent another employee, Luke Montgomery, due to being occupied by other tasks at the arena.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, states that Minaj became ‘visibly upset,’ per Billboard, and yelled at him: ‘Are you f***ing crazy having him pick up my prescription?’

It is claimed she also screamed, ‘You have lost your f***ing mind and if my husband was here, he would knock out your f***king teeth. You’re a dead man walking. You just f***ed up your whole life and you will never be anyone, I’ll make sure of it.’

During the alleged incident, Garrett says Minaj approached him and ‘struck him’ on the ‘right side of his face, causing his head to swing backwards as his hat flew off his head.’

Security for Minaj then approached him, and Garrett alleges the entertainer hit him on his right wrist, causing him to drop the papers he had been holding.

The music artist allegedly ordered Garrett to ‘get the f*** out’ before he went to a bathroom at the venue and locked himself inside.

Worried for his safety, Garrett claims he waited inside the restroom for hours, where he made a call to his partner to relay what happened.

Prosecutors told the outlet that the Detroit Police Department had asked for a warrant for the 12-time Grammy nominee, and were advised to continue to probe the allegations; pictured in May 2024 at the Met Gala in NYC 

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Minaj’s lawyer Judd Burstein slammed the lawsuit as ‘false and frivolous’ and said the music artist has not been served with a formal complaint; seen in 2022

He claims in the lawsuit that his ‘wrist was throbbing and his face was sore, but he stayed in the restroom because he was terrified and feared for his safety.’

Following the alleged incident, Garrett says he was not allowed back on the tour bus to return to Chicago, and was left in Detroit.

He flew back to Chicago to return to his hotel room, and stayed there ‘for the next couple days…because he was fearful and traumatized,’ per Billboard’s account.

Garrett claims he filed a report with Chicago Police and went back to Detroit to file a formal police report there as well.

The alleged former employee is suing for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Brandon is also seeking punitive, exemplary and general damages.

Minaj’s lawyer told DailyMail.com in a statement: ‘At this time, no complaint has been served upon Mrs. Petty, and therefore, we are unaware of the specific allegations.’

Her Pink Friday 2 World Tour began in March 2024 and ended in October.