A New York judge has dismissed the $5 million lawsuit that fashion icon Misa Hylton filed against Mary J. Blige, bringing an abrupt end to a legal feud between the longtime friends and collaborators.
Hylton, a high-profile stylist credited with shaping hip-hop fashion and a former friend of Blige’s spanning decades, sued the R&B superstar in April 2025. She alleged that Blige interfered with her business relationship with Harlem rapper Vado, pressuring him to cut ties with her management company and sign with Blige’s label, Beautiful Life Productions. The complaint claimed Blige sabotaged contract negotiations, withheld Vado’s completed album, and blocked touring opportunities to force him to break his management deal — stalling his career and costing Hylton financially.
But on Tuesday, Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond granted Blige’s motion to dismiss, noting that Hylton and her legal team failed to respond to Blige’s motion in a timely way — a lapse the court said effectively abandoned the case. “The court in no way condones parties filing lawsuits claiming millions in damages based on inflammatory accusations, only to have those very same parties abandon their allegations when faced with a motion to dismiss and sanctions,” the judge wrote in her order.
Blige’s lawyers had earlier branded the lawsuit as “frivolous” and “baseless,” asserting that Hylton lacked standing because her management company wasn’t a valid corporate entity and that Blige wasn’t personally party to the recording contract at issue. They also suggested the suit was designed to generate publicity and extract a settlement.
While the lawsuit has been dismissed, the court’s order includes a stern warning to Hylton and her attorney about engaging in what it described as “bad faith litigation tactics.” The judge declined Blige’s request for sanctions at this time but hinted that future missteps of a similar nature could result in penalties.
Hylton had sought $5 million in damages for breach of contract, emotional distress, and interference with business relationships. Vado was listed as a co-plaintiff in the case, asserting that Blige’s actions harmed his ability to release music and tour. Misa shared a statement with Loren Lorosa following the dismissal.
The fallout has reshaped a relationship once rooted in creative partnership: Hylton styled Blige in the early years of her career, and the two were regarded as close friends. With this dismissal, the public chapter of their dispute appears to be closing, even as personal reflections on the turmoil continue to surface.
