The Game Sues Viacom for $20 Million Over ‘Violent’ Contestant on His Dating Show

Rapper’s complaint says that a contestant with a “long and violent criminal history” was allowed to appear on VH1 series

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If you think your dating life is complicated, perhaps The Game can provide some perspective with a new lawsuit he’s filed against Viacom.

The rapper has slapped Viacom with a $20 million lawsuit, over a contestant on his VH1 reality dating series “She’s Got Game” who had a “long and violent criminal history” prior to being cast on the series.

In the suit, the rapper — real name: Jayceon Terrell Taylor — says that Priscilla Rainey was allowed on the show despite a doctor cautioning about her volatile past.

The suit says that Rainey initially passed a psychological examination, but afterward the doctor who performed the examination “was presented with various court documents, including several arrest reports involving Rainey” that revealed “a long and violent criminal history, including multiple felony arrests for aggravated battery.”

In one instance, the suit says, Rainey “apparently flew into a violent rage over her then-boyfriend’s alleged involvement with another woman. She ripped his shirt and began attacking him with her fist.”

The doctor then added an addendum to his report on Rainey noting that “in moments of jealousy, [Rainey’s] normal composure dissolves, leaving her to acting out of control,” and cautioned that a “very conservative approach is called for” with Rainey, the complaint says.

“Notwithstanding [the doctor’s] recommendation that Rainey should not be allowed to participate on the Show, Defendants felt that she would add a spark to the Show and ignored [the doctor’s] recommendation and allowed her to participate,” the suit reads. “Defendants clearly had knowledge of Rainey’s violent and extensive arrest history, yet they chose ratings over protecting the Plaintiff and others.”

Rainey “flashed signs of her violent behavior and jealousy” early on during the show, the suit says, and was involved in “several troublesome incidents.” After she was eliminated from the show, the suit says, Rainey filed a complaint alleging that Taylor battered her during the filming of the show, eventually receiving a $7.1 million verdict from a jury in December — a verdict that the suit says was “against the clear weight of the evidence.”

“Defendants either knew and ignored, or failed to diligently investigate Rainey’s background sufficiently enough to protect Plaintiff despite having the present ability and a duty to discover this information and to protect Plaintiff,” the suit reads.
In a statement, Viacom accused Taylot of attempting to “shift the burden of his damages” from Rainey’s lawsuit.”

“In November 2016, a jury ordered Mr. Taylor to pay more than $7 million as a result of his actions against a former contestant of an unscripted television series produced by a third party,” Viacom told TheWrap. “He is now seeking to shift the burden of his damages to Viacom through a misdirected legal action that is totally without merit.  We will work with the production partner on this series to vigorously defend against this claim.”

Alleging negligence, negligent misrepresentation, negligent infliction of emotional distress, the suit is seeking “more than $20 million.”

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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