Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson and his half-brother Omarr Baker have accused the entertainment attorneys in charge of the late pop star’s estate of mismanaging an October tribute concert, Billboard reports.
Nelson and Baker are seeking at least $7 million from L. Londell McMillan and Charles Koppelman, who were hired by the Bremer Trust, the temporary special administrator of the estate. From Billboard:
According to Nelson and Baker, Bremer, on the advice of McMillan and Koppelman, hired Jobu Presents, a company formed solely to promote this concert, instead of more experienced promoters. Jobu backed out, but still paid McMillan a commission, which Bremer never tried to recoup, the heirs allege.
“Mr. McMillan profited greatly from the sold-out tribute concert and the after-party from the use and exploitation of estate assets,” the document states, adding that Bremer failed to seek compensation from McMillan.
McMillan has strongly denied the accusations.
“The allegations are wildly and unethically false as well as damaging to the Estate and Heirs who gained financially,” he told Billboard in a statement. “Our focus remains to protect and maximize the value of the Prince estate and legacy. I understand the appropriate responses to these absurd comments will be forthcoming by Bremer.”
Earlier this month, Nelson and Baker’s attorney, Steven H. Silton, said in court that the concert was guaranteed to bring in at least $7 million, though financial figures have been redacted from the court document. The two heirs also oppose the appointment of McMillan, who served as Prince’s attorney for 13 years and helped him get out of his infamous Warner Bros. contract, as a co-personal representative of the estate; instead, they want CNN commenter Van Jones, who oversaw Prince’s philanthropy, to take the position.
