Nicole Scherzinger has launched an attack on Robin Antin founder of PussycatDolls in a cross complaint stemming out of a failed reunion. She alleges breach of contract, fraud, and other claims according to a newly filed court filing. This was exclusively obtained by Rolling Stone. The reality TV judge, singer, is seeking restitution. This includes punitive damages as well as court fees. “further relief”If deemed necessary by a court in the case.
The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, filed the new complaint. It claims Antin “breached her duties and obligations to Scherzinger, severely damaged PCD’s good will, and wasted the funding for the planned PCD reunion tour,”Ultimately, this led to the demise of the Pussycat dolls brand “through self-dealing, waste and fraud”That included accepting advances from Live Nation, a concert promoter. Scherzinger was forced to use her private money to finance Pussycat Donlls promotional appearances and recording a new single. “Antin’s mismanagement and self-dealing had so damaged PCD that a reunion tour on the terms Antin was demanding was not commercially feasible and could not be profitable for Antin, Scherzinger, or the other members of PCD,”The filing states.
In a statement Rolling Stone, Antin’s lawyer, Richard Busch, said his client “vehemently denies these allegations.”He also added: “This cross claim is absolute desperation on their part. It is clear that Defendant wants to try this case in the press by providing the press the cross claim, but we will try the case in the court room, and feel strongly that Ms. Antin will prevail.”
Meanwhile, Scherzinger’s representative said in an email that the singer had “no comment”The most recent update on the ongoing dispute.
Antin and Scherzinger’s conflict stems from a February 2019 agreement between the two women that sought to revamp the Pussycat Dolls through a new business venture called PCD Worldwide, which would create a “new generation” of the girl group, as well as launch an expansive 45-date reunion tour featuring the original Pussycat Dolls lineup — which, along with Scherzinger, included Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt.
According to court documents, the reunion tour was originally set to begin in 2019. However, it was moved to 2020 and then to 2021 by the pandemic. Scherzinger announced its cancellation on January 22nd.
Antin first filed her lawsuit against Scherzinger in September of 2021, claimingThe singer reneged on her agreement to participate in a Pussycat Dolls reunion tour unless her share of PCD Worldwide’s earnings was increased, citing potential financial losses from “opportunities she would have to forego to continue to engage in the partnership,” the BBC reported that the BBC had received the information at that time. Lawyers for Antin called Scherzinger’s demands a form of “extortion”This was “materially different than those already agreed to”Under the 2019 agreement. Earlier this year, Scherzinger’s lawyers submitted a response to Antin’s original complaint, calling the case “a meritless effort.”
Scherzinger’s latest cross-complaint reveals that Antin first approached the singer with a proposal for a possible Pussycat Dolls reunion in August 2017, but that those discussions never amounted to any firm agreements. According to the filing, however, “Antin began negotiating with Live Nation to promote the PCD reunion tour”By stating in bad faith “Scherzinger had already committed to participate in the reunion” — negotiations that Scherzinger claims she had no knowledge of and would not have authorized at the time.
Based upon this alleged false agreement, the complaint states that Antin received a $600,000 advance from Live Nation to finance the reunion in November of that year and used Scherzinger’s name and likeness to promote the tour to concert buyers. “Antin has not shown Scherzinger how she spent the $600,000 she received from Live Nation through [Pussycat Dolls, Inc.],” Scherzinger’s lawyers wrote. “On information and belief, Antin wasted some or all of those funds on expenditures other than the planning and production of the PCD reunion, including for personal expenses and expenses related to non-PCD business.” Additionally, court documents state Antin continued to pursue the Pussycat Dolls reunion tour without Scherzinger’s involvement after receiving the Live Nation advance by paying singer Pia Mia $100,000 to front the group — a move that ultimately proved to be unprofitable.
Scherzinger did not re-enter into negotiations with Antin until the disputed February 2019 agreement, Scherzinger’s lawyers claim. Scherzinger claims that she used her personal finances and connections in order to promote the reunion.The X Factor in late 2019, performances in Australia in early 2020, and organized and co-wrote the group’s 2020 comeback single, “React.”According to the singer, she was not compensated for these activities. She spent $163,858, and has not received any reimbursement.
“Scherzinger was hopeful that she and Antin could reach an agreement that would result in a successful, financially viable tour that PCD’s legions of longtime fans deserved and would enjoy,”The filing states.