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R&B songbirds Fantasia and Brandy are caught in the middle of a publicist’s racially-charged legal battle with Sony Music. Famed PR manager Courtney Barnes is suing the record company claiming he lost his job repping them because they allegedly hate black people.
According to TMZ, Barnes was hired by Fantasia to do PR work for her but was fired days later. He claims that the singer’s manager told him that Sarah Dennison, the Vice-President of Publicity at Sony Music, allegedly hated him and wanted him fired.
Barnes believes that Dennison hated him so much that Fantasia would’ve been screwed over royally if she didn’t drop him as her publicist.
Barnes also alleges in his lawsuit that Dennison formed her opinion about him based on hearsay that he had a reputation for “shady business practices.” According to Barnes, that code for racism.
Barnes’ firing as Fantasia’s publicist ruined his reputation and influenced Brandy’s decision not to work with him because of Dennison’s alleged slander.
Barnes is seeking $250,000 in damages.
Attorneys for Sony Music says Barnes’ lawsuit has no merit.
