It looks like Lady Gaga‘s going to be heading to court. A songwriter and music producer who claims he helped launch Lady Gaga’s career, co-writing hits and securing a record deal, is suing Gaga.
Rob Fusari, who is credited on Gaga’s album The Fame, alleges the singer denied him his share of song royalties and merchandising revenue. On Thursday, he filed the $30.5 million lawsuit against Gaga in New York.
Lady Gaga’s spokesman, Dave Tomberlin, has yet to comment on the legal action.
In legal documents, Fusari – whose former work includes Destiny’s Child’s ‘Bootylicious’ song, states he first came across Lady Gaga when she was performing under her government name, Stefani Germanotta, in March 2006.
He originally wasn’t going to work with Gaga, but decided to collab once he heard her play the piano for him.
Fusari claims he spent months developing her into the Lady Gaga brand, and gave her the actual Gaga name.
In an interview last year, the 23-year-old pop star claimed she was always the way she appears: ‘I was Gaga from the time that I was 19 through my first record deal.’
‘I always dressed like that before people knew me as Lady Gaga. I was always that way… I stuck out like a sore thumb.’
Fusari claims that he and Ms Germanotta were romantically linked when they formed a joint business venture – Team Love Child LLC – in May 2006, to promote Gaga.
The songwriter also claims he was instrumental in helping her land her record deal with Interscope Records. Fusari claims when their romantic relationship ended, so did their business dealings. The producer also claims he has been denied a 20% share of song royalties, 15% of merchandising revenue and other outstanding monies. He does acknowledge receiving approximately $611,000 (£403,000) but claims that is not his full share.
Do you think Lady Gaga did this guy dirty? Or do you think Fusari is lying?
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