Busta Rhymes Countersues Ex-Assistant for 'Fabricating' Assault Lawsuit
Veteran rapper Busta Rhymes has launched a defamation counterclaim against his former assistant, Dashiel Gables, who accused him of physically assaulting him in the lobby of a Brooklyn luxury high-rise last January.
According to court documents filed on Monday (Oct. 13) in federal court, Rhymes' attorney Patrick Butler claims that Gables fabricated allegations of assault and battery. "Smith did not assault or batter Gables," Butler wrote in the counterclaim.
Gables had filed a lawsuit against Rhymes this summer, alleging that the rapper routinely abused employees and physically assaulted him in January 2024. At the time, Rhymes called the lawsuit an "attempted shakedown by a disgruntled former assistant" and vowed to countersue.
In a statement, Butler said: "We are confident that the truth will come out in court and that Mr. Gables' baseless claims will be exposed for what they are – a fabrication designed to extort money from our client."
Gables' attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The lawsuit against Rhymes was filed in July 2024, just as he was preparing to attend the MTV EMAs 2024 held at Co-op Live on November 10, 2024, in Manchester, England. The event marked one of his last public appearances before the lawsuit became public knowledge.
Background research suggests that Gables worked as Rhymes' personal assistant for roughly six months starting in July 2024. The exact circumstances surrounding their working relationship and the alleged assault remain unclear.
In a related development, another high-profile celebrity, Rod Wave, has also been involved in a lawsuit over his 27M Tour. However, this story is unrelated to the Rhymes-Gables dispute.
The defamation counterclaim filed by Rhymes' attorney marks the latest development in the ongoing saga between the rapper and his former assistant. The case is expected to continue in federal court with further proceedings scheduled for the coming weeks.
As the situation unfolds, fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely to see how this high-profile dispute plays out in the courts.
*Reporting by Billboard.*
