Truth Hurts: Lizzo fights off Plagiarism Lawsuits

I guess the Truth really does hurt.

Last week, songwriters and producers Justin and Jeremiah Raisen publicly claimed on Instagram that Lizzo took melodies and lyrics from them for her  chart-topping song “Truth Hurts” during their various studio sessions they documented.

In response Lizzo has responded by with lawsuit of her own. Lizzo through her attorney Arato in California federal court is seeking a “judicial declaration” through the legal action that her accusers, as well as producer/songwriter Justin “Yves” Rothman, did not co-author the song and “have no rights to co-own that work or to share in its profits.”

In the suit, Lizzo’s lawyer Cynthia S. Arato wrote the following:

[T]he Raisens, acting through their sophisticated music publisher and an experienced music industry lawyer, expressly withdrew any claim to “Truth Hurts,” in writing, in April of this year, and subsequently assured Lizzo, again in writing, that they were making no claims to the work. Despite their clear, unequivocal, and repeated renunciations, this September the Raisens purported to “reinstate” their wholly unfounded claims—after they saw “Truth Hurts” become a hit and in a bad faith effort to capitalize on Lizzo’s success. The Raisens, moreover, embarked on an escalating campaign of harassment against Lizzo and others involved in “Truth Hurts,” threatening to “go public” unless they receive an unwarranted share of this work.

Lizzo also took to Instagram:  “The men who claim a piece of ‘Truth Hurts’ did not help me write any part of the song. They had nothing to do with the line or how I chose to sing it. There was no one in the room when I wrote ‘Truth Hurts,’ except me, Ricky Reed, and my tears. That song is my life, and its words are my truth.”

Lizzo, has however, extended the writing credits on “Truth Hurts” to singer Mina Lioness, who originally tweeted the line: “I just took a DNA test / Turns out I’m 100% that bitch.” So she should be seeing a serious coin soon from the top charting hit.

 

“Truth Hurts” currently ties Iggy Azelea at 7 weeks for the longest rap song to top Billboard for a female rapper.

I find it interesting that in writing the brothers would release all claims to her song only to try to reinstate them. Should be interesting to hear their argument on that point.

Do you think the judge will grant her the declaration order?

Stay tuned…

 

 

 

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