Blueface is facing a new legal push in Los Angeles where attorneys for a woman who won a $125,000 defamation judgment against the jailed rapper are asking a judge to redirect his music royalties to satisfy the debt.
Jackilyn Martinez, who sued the California rapper—real name Johnathan Jamall Porter—in December 2023, filed a motion Thursday (October 16) asking Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Hernandez to assign royalties from BMI and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The two organizations collect performance royalties on behalf of artists like Blueface.
Martinez’s legal move comes as Porter serves a four-year sentence at North Kern State Prison for violating probation tied to a 2021 assault case. She alleges the 28-year-old “Thotiana” rapper defamed her online by implying that Soulja Boy’s toddler might actually be his son.
“As a result of Porter’s wrongful conduct and the defamatory statements, I have and continue to suffer severe emotional and mental distress, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks (and) crying spells,” Martinez wrote in court documents.
After Porter failed to respond to the lawsuit, Judge Hernandez granted a default judgment in April totaling $123,245, which included $100,000 for pain and suffering. With interest, the amount has since grown to $129,150, according to a declaration from her attorney Michael Berke.
Martinez initially sought $10 million in damages, but the judge declined to award punitive damages in the defamation case.
The royalty seizure request is the latest financial blow for Porter, who was also ordered by a Nevada judge to pay $13 million to Euphoric Gentlemen’s Club in Las Vegas. That judgment stems from an October 2022 shooting outside the venue, which led to its permanent closure. The payout includes $12.6 million in lost business revenue, $198,000 in property damages and $84,000 in payroll costs. An additional $1 million in interest was later added to the total.
Martinez, who is the mother of the child at the center of the online paternity claim, stated in court filings that she has not had a relationship with Porter since 2018. The defamatory posts were allegedly made on his social media accounts.
Porter’s legal troubles began escalating in 2021 when he was convicted of assault for attacking a security guard at a North Hollywood venue. He was sentenced to probation but ended up behind bars in January 2024 after failing to comply with its terms. His four-year sentence was handed down in August.
Martinez’s attorneys argue that assigning the rapper’s royalties is necessary because he has not made any effort to pay the court-ordered amount. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for December 9.
Porter’s music catalog, which includes collaborations and viral hits, remains a potential source of income that could be tapped to satisfy his growing legal debts.
His representatives have not responded to inquiries regarding the pending motion.
Related
