Busta Rhymes rejects ex-assistant’s lawsuit alleging assault, threats, and wage violations, calling it a “shake-down” and vowing to counter-sue.
Busta Rhymes is pushing back against serious accusations from his former assistant, Dashiel Gables, who has filed a lawsuit alleging physical and verbal assault, workplace abuse, and wage violations.
In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Gables — who also goes by the name Divine — accused the rapper, whose real name is Trevor Smith Jr., of “wage and hour violations, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The complaint was filed on Aug. 4, with Gables requesting a jury trial.
According to Gables, the conflict began in January 2025 when an argument escalated while he was trying to contact his daughter. He claims Busta screamed at him to “stay off your phone” before allegedly punching him twice, causing a swollen eye. Gables says he went to the hospital, filed a police report, and that Busta later turned himself in, facing three assault charges.
Gables alleges that after reporting the incident, he was fired and “blacklisted” from music industry work. He also accuses the rapper of repeated verbal abuse, including threats of physical harm, homophobic slurs, and mocking his hearing impairment. The lawsuit further claims Busta engaged in aggressive behavior toward other employees, such as spitting in their faces and grabbing their clothes.
On the financial side, Gables says Busta violated federal and New York labor laws by failing to provide proper wage notices, pay required overtime, and meet other wage requirements.
He is seeking compensatory damages for lost income, unpaid wages, and emotional distress, plus additional damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Busta Rhymes, 53, issued a firm denial in a statement to PEOPLE, calling the allegations “manufactured claims” from a “disgruntled former assistant” who only worked for him briefly. He says he plans to counter-sue, describing the lawsuit as “an attempted shake-down” and expressing confidence that “the truth will prevail.”