Busta Rhymes has filed a countersuit against his former assistant, who sued him for assault and wage and hour violations, claiming that the lawsuit has caused damage to his reputation.
Busta, real name Trevor George Smith Jr., alleges former personal assistant Dashiel Gables’ lawsuit caused “damage to reputation, goodwill, and standing in the music and advertising industries.”
“Smith did not assault or batter Gables. Gables knew the statements were false, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth, including by fabricating allegations of criminal conduct and violence, omitting exculpatory facts and deliberately ignoring contrary evidence,” Busta’s lawsuit reads. “At a minimum, Gables acted negligently in ascertaining the truth.”
According to court documents, the employee, Gables, says the dispute began when he tried to contact his daughter. He claims the artist yelled, “Stay the f— off your phone,” before punching him twice, leaving him with a swollen eye. Gables says he sought medical treatment and filed a police report following the incident.
Gables also accuses Smith of ongoing verbal abuse, alleging the rapper routinely demeaned him, used a homophobic slur, and mocked his hearing loss. The complaint further claims Smith threatened him with “street justice.”
In addition to the personal allegations, the rapper is accused of spitting on staff members, striking them on the head, and grabbing their clothing. Gables also claims he was denied proper pay, wage statements, and other protections required under federal and New York labor laws.
He is seeking damages for unpaid wages, alleged blacklisting in the music industry, and emotional and financial harm.
Busta Rhymes says the allegations caused him to lose “advertising campaigns and other business opportunities,” and that he is seeking “special damages in an amount to be proven at trial,” due to “Gables’ conduct was willful, wanton, and malicious, warranting an award of punitive damages.”