American rapper Flo Rida has won more than $80 million in damages after suing an energy drink company that tried to hide money from him.
The 43-year-old rapper Celsius Holdings still holds its stock after a Florida court ruled it was in breach of contract.
Flo Rida, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, was sued by his production company, Strong Arm Productions, in May 2021, alleging that Celsius violated the conditions of his endorsement deal by not receiving stock options and other promised bonuses.
According to the civil complaint, Flo Rida served as a Celsius brand ambassador from 2014 to 2018 and was instrumental in ushering in a new era of brand development, growth and expansion for the company.
The rapper and his lawyers argued that the partnership paved the way for Celsius to grow, but the ambiguity of his contract prevented him from reaping the financial benefits.
Flo Rida said, “Basically, I helped start this company and all we were looking for was some trustworthy people who acted like family…and then when it came to success today, they just forgot about me . “
Flo Rida’s lawyer, John Uustal, said the rapper wanted his promised 1 percent ownership and was still willing to accept that instead of the $82.6m (£67m) Broward County Court awarded him.
Mr Ustal said, “Hey [Flo Rida] Love the product and it has been a very successful four year partnership.
“There are benchmarks. When certain things happen, he should get stock. There’s debate about whether those benchmarks are met. That’s what it’s about.”
Attorneys for Celsius argued that the company was at its most successful after its endorsement deal with Flo Rida ended — when other business decisions led to increased sales and stock value.
Flo Rida in court
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Flo Rida, who said he continues to drink Celsius products, said he hopes to work with the company again in the future.
“I’m still the owner of the company, and when you plant the seeds of something successful, you can’t help but have unconditional love,” he said.
A lawyer for Celsius did not immediately respond to a request for comment.