During a tense courtroom cross-examination, detailed text communications were presented, shedding light on the immediate period following a violent 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel. The messages, sent by a singer to her former partner, a prominent music executive, were read aloud as evidence.
In one exchange dated March 10, 2016, the singer directly addressed the alleged abuse. “When you get intoxicated, you always want to show me you have the power and you knock me around,” the message stated. “I’m not a rag doll, I’m someone’s child.” This communication followed an altercation that was reportedly captured on hotel surveillance footage.
The defense team for the executive focused on the role of substance use, questioning whether the singer had previously described the executive as being in a “black out” state during the hotel event. The singer testified that while she believed he was intoxicated, perceptions of such a state can vary.
Further messages revealed uncomfortable dynamics in the days after the incident. The executive reportedly initiated a sexual advance, which the singer described as feeling strange and inappropriate given the recent conflict. She responded by stating they needed “a different vibe,” to which he agreed, dismissing the previous Friday’s events.
Later texts showed an exchange where the executive expressed love, and the singer reciprocated with the same phrase.
The singer’s testimony is part of a broader legal proceeding where the executive faces federal charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. The singer has previously alleged a pattern of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and coercion during their on-and-off relationship, which spanned over a decade. She has also stated that the relationship contributed to a struggle with opioid addiction.
The trial continues in a federal district court.
