Why Is Mary J. Blige Being Sued? Inside the Lawsuit Involving Her Former BFF Misa Hylton
By D.M.June 6 2025, Published 9:40 p.m. ET
The Breakdown: Mary J. Blige and her best friend and stylist Misa Hylton are now facing off in court, with Misa filing a $5 million lawsuit accusing the R&B icon of sabotaging rapper Vado’s career.
Longtime BFFs, Mary J. Blige and Misa Hylton, are in the middle of a nasty legal dispute. Misa filed a $5 million lawsuit against the R&B, accusing her longtime friend-turned-defendant of brazenly sabotaging the career of Harlem rapper Vado.
In the early ’90s, when Uptown Records was dropping hit after hit and hip-hop soul was on the come-up, Mary and Misa’s bond was undeniable. Misa, a young stylist with bold taste and serious flair, stepped in and brought Mary’s streetwise edge to the forefront—pairing fur coats with combat boots and stacking bold jewelry.
As Mary’s voice topped charts and pulled at heartstrings worldwide, Misa’s designs were right there—on video shoots, red carpets, and magazine covers. They were often spotted laughing over wine, hanging out courtside at Nets games, and supporting each other through life’s obstacles.
However, a contract dispute has left the two in a legal battle. Here is a look at what went down and where Mary and Misa’s friendship stands.
Misa Hylton is suing Mary J. Blige, with Vado in the middle of the drama.
Mary and Misa’s friendship is on the rocks after the stylist accused Mary of undermining her management company, M.I.S.A. Management, according to Vibe. Misa’s lawsuit centers on two key contracts Vado inked in 2023 – a July 25 management deal with M.I.S.A. and an October 1 recording agreement with Mary’s imprint, Beautiful Life Productions.
According to the suit, Mary allegedly leveraged her clout to persuade Vado to break from Misa’s agency, even after he had “committed exclusively” to M.I.S.A., then used threats to shelve his album and freeze out tour dates unless he cut ties with Misa.
In her complaint, Misa alleges that Mary and her security chief—identified in the suit as Blige’s romantic partner—courted Vado on private yachts, at luxury hotels, and at exclusive events. Misa suggests that this was done without any M.I.S.A. representatives, to coax him into signing directly with Beautiful Life Productions. She claims these tactics amounted to “economic servitude,” leaving Vado unable to recoup advances or earn income under his recording deal.
Misa is seeking $5 million from Mary.
It is safe to say that Mary and Misa’s business relationship is over – at least for now. Misa is suing for breach of contract, tortious interference, and emotional distress. The stylist is seeking $5 million in damages. She’s also asking the court to grant an injunction preventing Mary and Beautiful Life Productions from further interfering in her professional relationships and business dealings.
Neither Mary nor her representatives have issued a public response. The singer is currently on the road with her “For My Fans Tour,” featuring Ne-Yo and Mario. Meanwhile, Vado’s album – which was reportedly completed in 2024 – has yet to be released. Misa asserts that Mary threatened to withhold its release and block live shows if he didn’t sever his management contract.
