Jay-Z “warned by FBI to delete sensitive emails over hacking concerns”
The FBI urged the rapper to delete his emails in light of an "imminent hack"
By Emma Kelly
Jay-Z was reportedly warned by the FBI to delete any “sensitive emails” in light of an “imminent hack”.
The rapper was “urged by federal officials to delete his emails” over concerns about an “imminent hack” on his email account, a source told Complex.
It’s unclear when the FBI contacted him.
A judge last year ruled that the 51-year-old “destroyed evidence” relating to a trial by deleting emails.
This report comes as the ’99 Problems’ star was cleared in the $68 million (£50 million) lawsuit filed by perfume company Parlux.
Parlux sued Jay-Z, who real name is Shawn Carter, for breach of contract, accusing the star and his company S. Carter Enterprises of failing to promote his signature fragrance Gold Jay-Z.
The company alleged that Jay-Z cost them millions by not promoting his fragrance at the launch of the product in November 2013.
During the trial in Manhattan, Jay-Z’s lawyer Alex Spiro argued the case was a “misunderstanding” that had been “exacerbated by dishonest deal brokers”.
Parlux countered by saying Jay-Z had “disapproved and disappeared” after he couldn’t get what he wanted and destroyed evidence after the company sued.
A judge ruled in 2020 that Jay-Z had “destroyed evidence” relevant to the Parlux trial by erasing emails.
Parlux’s counsel Anthony Viola argued that the company had invested $29 million (£21 million) into the venture, and said: “The defendants didn’t uphold their end of the bargain.
“If the defendants had fulfilled the contract, if they have upheld their end of the bargain, Parlux would have had a runaway success. We would have netted $67.6 million in net profits.”
During his testimony over two days, Jay-Z criticised the “crappy” quality of work that was coming from Parlux, and denied a breach of contract.
On Wednesday (November 11), a Manhattan jury found the rapper not liable for the claim, and also rejected his $6 million (£4.4 million) countersuit for alleged unpaid royalties.
Upon leaving the court, a reporter asked Jay-Z: “Do you have 98 problems now?”, with the star laughing and replying: “I like that.”