The dispute over more than $275,000 in expenses tied to Nicki Minaj’s 2023 Jingle Ball appearances and Pink Friday 2 promotion has entered a new phase. The production company pursuing the money still has to prove its claims, and Minaj’s side continues to dispute the debt. Now, the legal team defending the rapper wants to withdraw from the case, citing a breakdown in communication and disagreements over strategy.
In a filing dated October 23 in New York County Supreme Court, attorney Bruce W. Bieber asked to withdraw his firm, Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever LLP, from representing Minaj and her company, Pink Friday Productions LLC. The filing cites “irreconcilable differences,” conflicting litigation strategies, and a breakdown in communication. It describes the attorney-client relationship as having “irretrievably broken down,” making effective representation “unreasonably difficult.” The firm has withheld further details, citing attorney-client confidentiality.
The request marks a significant turn in a case that began with a dispute over production expenses. However, it is not a ruling on the underlying claims, and the court has not been reported to have granted the withdrawal request.
On March 23, 2026, 24/7 Productions (USA) Inc. filed suit against Minaj and Pink Friday Productions, alleging that the company had not been reimbursed for expenses it advanced while coordinating her December 2023 Jingle Ball performances in Chicago and Atlanta, along with promotional events in New York for Pink Friday 2.
According to the complaint, 24/7 Productions provided production planning, staffing, lighting, sound, transportation and logistical support. The company alleges that Minaj’s team approved itemized budgets before the work began, with the understanding that expenses advanced on the clients’ behalf would be reimbursed.
The production company says it spent more than $275,000 but received no repayment despite repeated attempts to collect. It is seeking $275,149.62 plus interest. Its supporting documentation includes a $103,730 bill for a seven-night stay at The Langham in New York and a $25,197.85 bill from the Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale. These figures form part of the plaintiff’s evidence, not a judicial determination that the charges are owed.
The company also alleges that Minaj’s Jingle Ball performances generated approximately $650,000, arguing that the events benefited her financially while its own invoices remain unpaid. The complaint places the dispute at the intersection of event production, business agreements, and responsibility for expenses incurred on an artist’s behalf.
The disagreement extends beyond the invoices themselves. In September, TMZ reported on a November 29, 2023, email in which a member of Minaj’s team allegedly described a $250,000 promotional allowance from Republic Records as “extremely low,” warning that hotels and transportation could consume the budget. The email adds context to the competing accounts of how promotional expenses were expected to be covered, but it does not establish whether every disputed charge was authorized.
Minaj’s defense has challenged her personal liability, arguing that any agreement was with Pink Friday Productions rather than Minaj individually. In a July 31 filing, her company also maintained that the debt had been paid. Those positions raise separate questions about whether money remains outstanding and whether Minaj can personally be held responsible for her company’s alleged obligations. Neither question has been resolved.
The October 23 filing introduces another issue into the litigation. Bieber’s firm previously argued against holding Minaj personally responsible for the alleged debt. Now, the same legal team says disagreements over strategy and communication have made continued representation unworkable.
The attorneys have asked the court for permission to withdraw and for a reasonable pause to allow Minaj and Pink Friday Productions to secure replacement counsel. Until the judge rules, the firm’s request remains pending.
The next development to watch is whether the court approves the withdrawal and how the case proceeds with or without the current legal team. The original financial dispute remains unresolved, as do the competing claims about payment, authorization, and personal liability.
For now, the latest filing does not answer who owes what. But the question about who will represent Minaj as the case moves forward remains unanswered.
Na’ilah Burston
