'Straight Outta Compton' News Update: Ex-NWA Manager Sues Ice, Cube, Dr. Dre, Easy-E Estate for Upwards of $100 Million
Former NWA manager Jerry Heller is suing the creators of the smash hit movie "Straight Outta Compton" for defamation and is seeking in access of $100 million.
In proceedings that name Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and the estate of Eazy-E as defendants, Heller is seeking $35 million in compensatory damages and at least another $75 million in punitive damages. In addition, Heller also names NBC and Universal Pictures as defendants, TMZ reports.
Among the developments Heller takes issue with is his portrayal as "the bad guy" and "a sleazy manager who took advantage" of all of the group's artists. Heller also characterizes the scenes where he withheld a $75,000 check from Cube, fraudulently manipulated him and Dre into signing bad deals and ultimately being fired by Eazy-E as "all lies."
Heller's suit also argues he never granted any of the movie's creators the right to use his likeness and that producers used his book to bolster several other scenes, including the one where Death Row Records founder Suge Knight coerced Eazy-E into signing on with his label.
According to the New York Daily News, Heller and Eazy-E crossed paths early in the rapper's career and the two are largely credited with helping getting the group to the next level.
"This is a guy who's been in the music business for six decades, and he still gets up every day and goes to work," attorney Michael R. Shapiro said of his client. " And this film characterizes him as a sleazy thief. It's so patently dishonest and inaccurate, he couldn't let it go on."
Shapiro added Heller and Eazy were like father and son, and the firing episode the movie refers to never happened.
"Straight Outta Compton" is reported to have grossed more than $200 million at the box office.
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