Former N.W.A.
manager Jerry Heller filed a multimillion dollar defamation lawsuit Friday over
the hit film “Straight Outta Compton,” claiming it portrayed him as a
villain who led to the breakup of the gangster rap group.
Heller,
who is portrayed in the film by Paul Giamatti, sued former N.W.A. members Ice
Cube and Dr. Dre, the widow of rapper Eazy-E, and NBC Universal, which released
the film in August.
“Straight
Outta Compton” was a hit, earning nearly $160 million domestically in the
first six weeks after it was released in August.
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Heller
claims the film portrays him as a villain who led to the breakup of N.W.A.,
which launched the careers for Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and sparked the rise in
popularity of gangster rap. The film is uses elements of a script that Heller
commissioned, and violates his copyright in a memoir that included his
description of key moments depicted in the film, the lawsuit states.
“The
film is littered with false statements that harm the reputation of (Heller) and
aim to ridicule and lower him in the opinion of the community and to deter
third persons from associating or dealing with him,” the lawsuit states.
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Representatives
for NBC Universal and Ice Cube declined comment. A publicist for Dr. Dre did
not immediately return an email seeking comment.
Heller
is suing Woods-Wright because he claims the film, which she helped produce,
violates non-disparagement clauses in a settlement he reached with her in 1999.
Woods-Wright could not be reached for comment.
Heller
is seeking more than $110 million, although a jury would determine any damage
verdict.
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