Music Interview

Trey Songz, Atlantic Records and Kevin Liles sued for rape

February 11, 2023

Trey Songz is being sued for rape, with his record label and manager also named in the suit.

The $25million (£20.7million) lawsuit has been filed by an anonymous woman, listed on the suit as Jane Doe, who claimed that Songz raped her in March 2016. She had previously sued the artist last year for $20million (£16.5million), but the case was dismissed after the singer’s team argued that her claims were past the statute of limitations.

In the lawsuit, Doe alleged that Liles, his label 300 Entertainment, and Songz’s label, Atlantic Records, have continued to work with Songz, despite the accusations. Her lawyer claimed that they are “responsible in some manner” for Songz’ alleged actions.

“This case is much more than about one singer and one viciously abused sexual-assault survivor who has the courage to take action,” Doe’s lawyer George Vrabeck, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “It’s also very much about the systematic sexual abuse in the music industry and the music industry’s complicity in silencing sexual abuse survivors. It’s virtually impossible to believe that those executives are not and were not aware of the institutionalized sexual abuse.”

It is becoming more commonplace for the record labels of artists being sued for sexual assault to be implicated in lawsuits. A recent lawsuit filed against Marilyn Manson, for grooming and sexual assault, for example, named his label Interscope in the filing.

NME has contacted Trey Songz’ reps for comment.

Songz has faced several accusations of sexual assault throughout his career. In 2018, he was charged over a domestic violence case – during which he claimed via Twitter that he was being “falsely accused for someone’s personal gain”.