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VH1 may have gotten big ratings from “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” but the network’s parent company is getting something far less pleasant from the group’s former manager.
According to pagesix.com, Perri “Pebbles” Reid is suing Viacom for $40 million amid claims that the 2013 movie portrays her “as a conniving and dishonest business woman who hoodwinked three innocent girls and exploited their talent for her own personal gain.” Reid further stated in the suit that Viacom “ignored fundamental canons of journalistic and literary conduct by publishing false and defamatory accusations with actual malice.”
Filed late Friday, the suit mentioned that despite what was seen by VH1 viewers, Reid never controlled TLC’s lawyers or accountants, never withheld contract terms from TLC and always paid the group what they were owed.
Best known for hits such as “Ain’t to Proud to Beg,” “Waterfalls,” and “Creep, TLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after selling 11 million copies of their 1994 album “CrazySexyCool.”
Speaking with pagesix, record execs said TLC only filed for bankruptcy in order to void their contracts. However, the group members, who sued LaFace Records and Pebbitone, Reid’s management company, claimed they were only paid $50,000 a year each in 1993 and 1994.
A spokesperson for Viacom did not comment on the situation, telling the site, “It’s our policy not to comment on matters in litigation.”
