Rihanna is on the defensive this morning in her battle with ex-accounting firm Berdon LLP. The singer’s former accountants are now calling for Rihanna’s mother to testify in the case–a move that has RiRi shouting “nobody’s business” to the judge.
The “Diamonds” singer claims the firm is merely trying to “inconvenience, burden and harass” members of her family and asked the judge to prevent her mother from having to testify. However, the judge has denied Rihanna’s request, saying her mother’s testimony is crucial to the case because Rihanna first used the accounting firm as a minor–with her mother as guardian.
Rihanna originally sued Berdon for mismanaging the cash flow on her 2009 “Last Girl on Earth” tour and failing to inform her when the tour began to lose money. Rihanna also accuses the firm of taking a whopping commission of 22%, when the industry standard is usually 10-15%.
However, Berdon struck back with a blow, denying all claims of mismanagement and arguing Rihanna signed documents that acknowledged the hefty commission. In asking Rihanna’s mom to testify, they are trying to prove to the singer they won’t back down easily.
A judge has yet to make a decision on the case.
Rihanna is also on the defensive in her Complex Magazine interview, which hits shelves this week (in seven different covers).
The reporter made the mistake of asking her about on-and-off boyfriend Chris Brown and their recent collaboration “Nobody’s Business.” As soon as Brown was mentioned, Rihanna reportedly gathered her stuff and left the room, retorting: “It’s a fun record that The-Dream wrote and we loved the lyrics. You’re still asking me questions about it so clearly you don’t know.”
On her way out the door, Rihanna also claimed the Brown collaboration was the idea of her mentor and record label chief Jay-Z. “Jay-Z and I were in the car together listening to the song, and we thought it would be a great duet. It sounds dope. It feels good. That’s how Chris ended up on the song.”
Jay-Z, who reportedly gave Brown a stern lecture after the couple’s domestic dispute in 2009, has yet to confirm his hand in “Nobody’s Business.”
