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Gerald “Jerry” Heller, the former manager of N.W.A played a large part in Ice Cube going solo and the group eventually disbanding because of his corrupt business practices.

Now he wants a piece of the profits from the biopic. According to Deadline, Heller believes he was inaccurately portrayed in the film and he’s seeking damages of $110 million from NBCUniversal, director F. Gary Gray, Legendary Pictures, the screenwriters of Straight Outta Compton as well as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and the estate of Eazy-E.

The $110 million lawsuit is comprised of a $35 million request for monetary damages and $75 million in punitive and exemplary damages plus “restitution of all gains, profits and advantages.”

“The larger the success of the film, the greater the damages to Plaintiff, who has been and continues to be defamed, ridiculed, and robbed of his personal and financial rights to the extent that the intentional and egregious behavior of Defendants demands the imposing of punitive damages” reads the lawsuit filed by attorney Michael R. Shapiro.

The suit also claims that Jerry did not give permission for his image and likeness to be part of the biopic. Since Straight Outta Compton was released in August, it’s grossed over $200 million. Jerry believes he’s entitled to over half given that the character in the film, played by Paul Giamatti, is at the epicenter of the groups rise and fall.

Heller also alleges that “a significant amount of the Film’s content” was taken from his 2006 book Ruthless: A Memoir and screenplays that he owns…as if he was the sole member of NWA.

Jerry must have run out of the millions he swindled from the group back in the 80s and 90s, now he’s looking to do it again. He isn’t just trying to get over on naive teenage boys anymore, he’s also trying to sue the film studio which probably has an epic legal team. We doubt this lawsuit will hold up in court but stay tuned for the latest developments.

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Racism Is As Racism Does: Increased Security At Theaters Showing ‘Straight Outta Compton’

 

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.