Busta Rhymes’ Former Assistant Fights Back, Seeks Dismissal of Rapper’s Defamation Countersuit
In a legal battle that is rapidly escalating, Dashiel Gables, a former assistant to the iconic Brooklyn rapper Busta Rhymes, is now seeking to have the artist’s defamation lawsuit against him thrown out of court. Gables alleges the countersuit is nothing more than a retaliatory maneuver designed to silence him after he first accused the rapper of assault.
A Retaliatory SLAPP Suit?
According to legal documents obtained by AllHipHop, Gables has formally requested a judge dismiss the defamation suit Busta Rhymes filed in October. This legal action was a direct counterpunch to Gables’ own initial lawsuit, which accused the “Gimmie Some More” artist of physical assault and workplace abuse.
In paperwork filed at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Gables’ legal team has branded the rapper’s suit a “retaliatory Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” (SLAPP). Such lawsuits are often criticized as tools to intimidate and burden critics with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their claims.
Gables contends he was merely exercising his fundamental “constitutional right to petition for redress of grievances.” His legal counsel is now asking the court not only to dismiss Busta’s counterclaim in its entirety but also to award Gables attorney fees and impose sanctions on the rapper for what they label a “frivolous and retaliatory counterclaim.”
The Core of the Dispute: Assault Allegations and a Denial
The friction between the two men stems from a January 10, 2025, incident. Gables initially filed a $6 million lawsuit, claiming Busta Rhymes punched him in the face during an argument in the lobby of the rapper’s Brooklyn residence. Gables stated he had worked for the artist from July 2024 until his termination in January, which he says occurred immediately after he reported the alleged assault to the police.
Since his firing, Gables claims he has endured significant hardship, including severe emotional distress, unpaid wages, and effective blacklisting from his professional field.
Following Gables’ police report, Busta Rhymes turned himself in to authorities. He was subsequently charged with third-degree assault.
However, the rapper has vehemently denied all allegations. In a written statement provided to media, Busta Rhymes offered a starkly different narrative of the relationship’s dissolution.
“I have been made aware of the claims made by Dashiel Gables, and I completely and categorically deny these allegations,” the statement read. “For a very brief period, Dashiel assisted me, but it did not work out. Apparently, Dashiel has decided to respond to being let go by manufacturing claims against me in an attempt to attack and damage my reputation.”
As the legal duel intensifies, Gables’ attorneys have laid down a fundamental legal principle that could define the case’s trajectory. They stated, “Truth is an absolute defense to defamation under state and federal law,” setting the stage for a contentious fight over what truly transpired between the former assistant and the hip-hop legend.
Source: AllHipHop