Sexyy Red has reportedly been warned she could face legal action after allegedly using an unauthorised sample of Michael Jackson’s classic hit Beat It.
The estate of the late King of Pop criticised the 27-year-old rapper, born Janae Wherry, after she incorporated elements of the 1982 track from the album Thriller into a viral clip of her performing a song titled Just Eat It.
The controversy intensified after Sexyy Red joked that her track would appear in the upcoming Michael biopic about the Billie Jean hitmaker. She teased on Instagram: “Leaked footage from da Michael Jackson movie HOOCHIE TRIBUTE TO DA BEST LLMJ.”
Earlier in the week, fellow rapper Lil Yachty shared studio footage of Sexyy Red rapping to Just Eat It. The explicit version features the risqué lyrics: “Just eat it, just eat it/ You better not nut fast because I hate a minute man/ And if that d*** is trash, I’m telling all my friends/ I’ll beat your a** and we bout to throw them hands.”
Jackson’s estate has expressed strong disapproval and signalled it may pursue legal remedies to safeguard the artist’s work and legacy.
A statement read: “Michael Jackson’s music is protected by copyright and by a legacy that is carefully managed to honour his artistic vision.
“The unauthorised sampling and alteration of ‘Beat It’ undermines that legacy and violates the rights of the Estate.”
The estate, which has tightly controlled the use of Jackson’s catalogue since his death in 2009, continued: “We are reviewing all available legal remedies.
“We will take appropriate action to protect Michael’s intellectual property and preserve the integrity of his work.”
They added: “Michael’s catalogue is among the most valuable in music history.
“Every decision we make is guided by preserving his artistry and ensuring that future generations experience his work as intended.”
Sexyy Red has yet to publicly respond to the estate’s warning.
