Breakups are a bitch. There’s nothing worse than loving someone, and then losing them. However, I think Leona Lewis and Lady Gaga would argue that there is something worse than breaking up with someone: being a pop star and having your ex-boyfriend sue your ass for millions of dollars claiming he’s the reason you’re famous.
Awesome.
Earlier this year Lady Gaga’s ex-boyfriend and former producer Rob Fusari sued Gaga for a whopping $30 million dollars. In the suit he claims he came up with the name Lady Gaga and that he had signed a contract with Gaga ensuring that he’d get a 20% cut from both of Gaga’s companies, in addition to a portion of her merchandising and revenue. He also claims he didn’t receive proper compensation for the songs he co-wrote on The Fame, including “Paparazzi”.
As Fusari says, “It’s an age-old story in the music business. You become famous and you turn on the person who discovered you.” (Where's my violin?!?)
Gaga then slapped Fusari with a counter-lawsuit which stated that Gaga was tricked in to signing an illegal contract that was not only “predatory and financially abusive”, but was also “structured in such a way as to mask its true purpose” which was to provide Fusari with “unlawful compensation” as Fusari was not a licensed talent agent.
Good luck with that, Fusari.
And now, X Factor winner Leona Lewis has been hit with a lawsuit from her exboyfriend and childhood sweetheart Lou Al-Chamaa. Despite offering Lou their London home which is worth £600,000, a source claims that:
“[Lou] believes he has played a huge role in Leona's success. They have been together for more than ten years and he has encouraged her to fulfil her potential. He believes he has the rights of a common-law husband.
"He even filled in her X Factor application form and believes he then played a huge role in her success... He claims he owns a piece of some of her songs and should benefit financially.”
Oh, boys. Here’s the thing...
I don’t agree when women divorce famous husbands and ask for a ton of money. (Unless you were married to Tiger Woods.) So you were together and they were rich. It’s called a fucking pre-nup. And it’s called integrity. Take note of women like (dare I say) Cheryl Cole and even Coleen McLoughlin: if you're that concerned with being rich, maybe you should, like, I don't know... MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY.
Also, how does being with someone before they were famous entitle you to their money once they made it big? How does Fusari really think he's entitled to FUTURE ROYALTIES of Gaga's when he's already recieved compensation for his work on The Fame? Good for you, you helped come up with the name Lady Gaga. But your name is still Rob Fusari. DEAL WITH IT.
And Lou – please. PLEASE. Well done for being a SUPPORTIVE BOYFRIEND. How nice of you for encouraging Leona. How disgusting that you now want a fucking prize for doing what any supportive partner should do. Her money is her money. She offered you the house. Now get lost.
Unless you own a company, a car, or a house (and maybe some kids and and a cat) together – how does one ex decide that the others’ money belongs to them? How can you claim that you should be compensated for your support? That’s not how it works, jerks.
You’re meant to be supportive in a relationship because you love your partner, not because you’re expecting to get something in return when they make loads of money.
Sure, Fusari was Gaga’s business partner. He helped discover her. But he wasn’t an agent. And how long should Gaga’s gratitude go? Future royalties? 20% of everything she earns forever?
Sounds to me that Lou and Fusari should both grow up, and get over it.
Image via Michael Spencer's Flickr