Mary J. Blige Scores Court Win As $5 Million Lawsuit From Former Friend Misa Hylton Gets Tossed
Written by b87fm on 01/07/2026
Mary J. Blige just secured a major legal victory. A New York judge has dismissed the $5 million lawsuit filed against the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul by longtime former friend and famed stylist Misa Hylton.
Hylton filed the suit in April 2025, accusing Blige of allegedly trying to pressure rapper Vado into ending his management agreement with her. She also claimed Blige tried to “sabotage” her relationship with the rapper and wanted to sign him to her company, Beautiful Life Productions. Blige fiercely denied the accusations, calling the case “frivolous” and accusing Hylton of harassment.
On Tuesday, Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond dismissed the lawsuit after Hylton failed to respond to Blige’s motion to dismiss, according to reporting from Billboard.
In her ruling, the judge delivered a sharp message about filing major lawsuits without following through:
“The court in no way condones parties filing lawsuits claiming millions in damages based on inflammatory accusations, only to have those very same parties abandon their allegations when faced with a motion to dismiss and sanctions.”
While the case is gone, the judge did not grant Blige’s request to sanction Hylton — but she made it clear a warning has been issued, noting future behavior like this could carry consequences.
Hylton’s attorney, Nicholas Ramcharitar, explained that his client chose to drop the case after experiencing threats following her testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial. Hylton and Diddy share a long history and a son, Justin Combs.
Before the fallout, Blige and Hylton were close for nearly four decades. Hylton is widely credited with crafting Mary J. Blige’s iconic early ’90s style — helping shape one of the most recognizable looks in music culture.
Now, the friendship is fractured, the lawsuit is gone, and Mary walks away with the legal win.
