Nicki Minaj is currently navigating a high-stakes legal storm as she loses her second attorney in a 10 million dollar defamation lawsuit filed by former fan Tameer Peak. This latest procedural shakeup hit the headlines after attorney Matthew Abbott filed court papers to withdraw from the case, citing a total communication breakdown with the superstar.
The situation is reaching a critical tipping point because that 10 million dollar figure represents a massive financial and reputational risk that isn’t going away.
This development follows a pattern of representation turnover that started in late 2025 when her longtime lawyer, Judd Burstein, also abruptly stepped away from the dispute. Now, the clock is ticking as the court has set a firm deadline for the rapper to respond to her own lawyer’s request to quit.
It is a messy look for the defense, especially since the plaintiff is moving full steam ahead with claims involving slander and stalking.
Screenshot from @gracefulnickimx, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.
The core of this conflict traces back to August 2024, when Tameer Peak filed his massive defamation suit against the Barbie World rapper. Peak alleges he was the target of false accusations regarding criminal conduct and stalking made by Minaj during a period of high-intensity public tension.
While the legal merits of the case are still being debated, Matthew Abbott has made it clear he has reached the end of his rope.
Abbott, who is actually linked to Minaj’s new management company, told the court they have not heard from the artist in months. Despite reaching out several times via text and email to both Minaj and her accountants, the legal team says they have received no response.
This lack of response forced Abbott to ask the judge for an extension, just so Minaj has enough time to find a new permanent lawyer before things get even more expensive.
A Legal Paradox of Frivolous Claims and Empty Chairs
The most striking part of this revolving door of attorneys is the public confidence expressed by the person who knows the case best. Former longtime lawyer Judd Burstein has explicitly characterized Peak’s lawsuit as “entirely frivolous” and without legal weight.
Even as he walked away from the representation in late 2025, Burstein was careful to state that his withdrawal was “unrelated to any concern about the merits of the claims”.
He noted that it would be inappropriate to discuss the specific reasons why he chose to decline further representation, but he firmly stood by the strength of Minaj’s potential defense. This creates a confusing scenario where the legal path to victory seems clear to her advisors, yet the professional relationship required to actually win has completely disintegrated.
Screenshot from @theminajsupreme, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.
This disconnect suggests that the primary obstacle in the 10-million-dollar case later refiled isn’t necessarily the evidence, but the logistical reality of managing a superstar. When a lawyer of Burstein’s stature calls a suit meritless and still decides to leave, it sends a specific message to the industry.
It shifts the focus from the validity of Tameer Peak’s allegations to the internal infrastructure of Minaj’s business suite.
The fact that Matthew Abbott also represents her management company adds another layer of drama to the recent filing. A breakdown in communication with the firm that handles both legal and management matters indicates a systemic collapse in how the artist receives and processes vital information about her own life.
Culture War Feuds and the Cost of Distraction
While the 10 million dollar lawsuit moves through a period of procedural purgatory, Minaj has remained incredibly visible in the digital space. Media outlets have noted that this legal disarray is unfolding at the same time the rapper has immersed herself in intense political commentary.
She has recently been spotted supporting Donald Trump at various events and engaging in high-volume social media clashes with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
In one notable post, she accused Newsom of speaking to Black people as if they were children and suggested he believes they are slow. These vocal political stances have dominated her public narrative and often drowned out the news that her legal defense team is essentially packing their bags.
Screenshot from Nicki Minaj’s official X page , via X.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.
The timing of these political rants and public appearances creates a sharp contrast with the reported radio silence her lawyers are experiencing behind the scenes. While she is active and engaged with millions of followers on social media, her legal counsel claims they cannot get a simple text or email response regarding a 10 million dollar liability.
This split in focus between cultural warfare and courtroom reality creates a unique set of reputation challenges.
The public attention is naturally drawn to the fiery rhetoric of her political posts, while the quiet filing of withdrawal motions by her attorneys suggests a far more precarious situation. It remains unverified if her political activity has any direct causal link to her lawyers leaving, but the simultaneous timing is impossible for the industry to ignore.
The High Stakes of Staying Silent in 2026
The immediate future of this case now rests on whether Minaj will break her silence to meet the court-mandated deadline. If she fails to secure a third lawyer or respond to Abbott’s motion to withdraw, she risks facing the 10 million dollar claims without any professional shield.
The judge has not yet ruled on the motion to exit, but the pressure is mounting for the artist to stabilize her professional circle.
Screenshot from @magannickiminaj, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.
What is confirmed is that the history of this dispute is long, with prior legal actions involving Peak dating back to August 2024 for slander and additional claims surfacing in September 2025. This refiled version of the lawsuit represents one of the most aggressive pushes for damages, and it continues at a moment when her legal support is at its thinnest.
This situation serves as a significant case study in how the modern celebrity machinery can sometimes work against the interests of the individual star. The blurring of lines between talent management and legal counsel was supposed to streamline her operations, but the current breakdown suggests the opposite.
When the same people responsible for her career growth are the ones telling a judge they have been ignored for months, the narrative becomes one of internal friction rather than external victory. Moving forward, the focus will likely shift to whether this silence is a temporary lapse or a broader change in how the rapper intends to handle her multi-million dollar liabilities.