INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Singer Chris Brown attends the iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Forum on April 3, 2016 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for iHeartRadio / Turner)
Chris Brown has filed a lawsuit, saying that he was targeted by an extortion scheme after performing a concert in the Philippines in 2015.
According to the lawsuit, Brown was scheduled to perform at a New Year’s Eve concert in 2014 at Philippines Arena, but couldn’t make it because of a misplaced passport. Brown scheduled a make-up gig in Manila for July 2015, which he did perform — after which the extortion attempt was made, the suit says.
The suit alleges that Brown was scheduled to leave by private plane the day after the concert, but when he attempted to leave his hotel for the airport, “a group of armed personnel prevented him from leaving.”
According to the suit, a man identifying himself as counsel for Magilaya Corp. contacted Brown’s attorney and “threatened to have Plaintiff arrested and sent to jail based on a fraudulent criminal complaint filed … that same day, alleging that Plaintiff had defrauded Magilaya Corp. by not performing on New Year’s Eve in 2014.”
However, the man allegedly told Brown’s attorney he could “make it all go away” if Brown ponied up $300,000 to him and his “associate,” defendant Jose Victor Los Banos Giongco, but that Brown wouldn’t be granted flight clearance unless the money was transferred first.
Brown was able to leave after an immigration attorney retained by the singer’s attorney secured flight clearance, the lawsuit says, but the alleged extortion attempt didn’t end there.
“Defendants, having discovered that Plaintiff independently obtained flight clearance, attempted to extort Plaintiff one last time by taking credit for the flight clearance obtained by Plaintiff’s immigration attorney. Specifically, Defendants sent text messages that they ‘complied with the terms of the agreement,’ ‘gave their consent for Plaintiff to leave’ and instructed Plaintiff to ‘proceed with wiring the funds,'” the suit reads.
“Defendants’ outrageous conduct described herein was intentional, willful, malicious and done with full knowledge of the distress, anxiety, shock, discomfort and annoyance said conduct would cause to Plaintiff,” the lawsuit reads. “Plaintiff is therefore entitled to exemplary damages in a sum which will be sufficient to punish and make an example of Defendants, and each of them.”
Alleging civil extortion and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the suit seeks unspecified damages.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
Chris Brown Arrest: 7 Stars Who Support the Embattled Singer (Photos)
Chris Brown experienced his latest run-in with the law on Tuesday, when he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon following an hours-long standoff with the police, after allegedly pulling a gun on a woman at his Tarzana, California, home. But the "I Can Transform Ya" singer has plenty of supporters as he weathers his latest legal plight -- and some of them are famous. Read on for a list of celebrities who've offered their support for Chris Brown.
Rapper 50 Cent took to his Instagram account to speak up for Brown. Pointing out that Btown's accuser, Baylee Curran, had reportedly been accused of theft for allegedly stealing a purse in 2013, the rapper wrote, "This Bitch was trying to steal something got kicked out then called the cops see. Smh you can't make this shit up. Lol."
Ray J, who was reportedly at Brown's home at the time of the alleged incident, also hit up Instragram, posting a video in which he declared, "I'm real upset about today. I'm not happy with how things are being handled and about how people can take a false story and blow it up into something way more than it should be."
Singer/actress Keke Palmeralso posted a video, saying, "I really wish that people would stop messing with Chris Brown ... I ain't saying he's perfect, I don't know him like that. But, I mean, I wish we would pray for motherf--kers instead of hating them."
Hulk Hogan took to Twitter and offered, "Praying for Chris Brown only love" -- though he also later tweeted, "Chris needs to start loving God and get correct," so it seems like he might still be wrestling with the issue.
Rapper Lil Mama likewise put her support behind Brown, writing, "I love @chrisbrownofficial and I AM TIRED OF SEEING HIM HURT. But for right now I'm just praying for his safety."
Singer Bruno Mars tweeted his support on Tuesday night, writing, "Prayin for ya @chrisbrown we need ya."
"Love L.A." Rapper Young Scrap blasted Brown's haters while defending the singer, writing, "Prayers are up for Chris Brown...it's crazy how some of you can't wait for him to fall."
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From 50 Cent to Hulk Hogan, the musician/assault suspect has plenty of people rooting for him
Chris Brown experienced his latest run-in with the law on Tuesday, when he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon following an hours-long standoff with the police, after allegedly pulling a gun on a woman at his Tarzana, California, home. But the "I Can Transform Ya" singer has plenty of supporters as he weathers his latest legal plight -- and some of them are famous. Read on for a list of celebrities who've offered their support for Chris Brown.