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Iggy Azalea Sues Ex for Allegedly Stealing Music, Forging Signature

Azalea takes another step to stop sex tape release, accuses ex boyfriend Maurice "Hefe Wine" Williams of "willful" copyright infringement.

Iggy Azalea isn't taking those sex tape allegations lying down. The Aussie rapper stepped up her battle against an ex-boyfriend who allegedly stole songs from her computer, forged her signature on a contract, and is attempting to release the tape starring himself and the “Fancy” rapper. Azalea, whose birth name is Amethyst Kelly, filed a lawsuit Wednesday (Sept. 17) attempting to stop unlawful use of her music, image, and stage name, the latter of which is trademarked.

The former boyfriend, Maurice “Hefe Wine” Williams, committed “willful infringements of Azalea’s copyrights in previously unreleased musical sound recording and lyrics.” In addition, Williams and his company, Wine Enterprises, stand accused of “misappropriation” of her name, voice, and likeness, “theft of computer files,” and a “clumsy forgery of Azalea’s signature on a purported recording contract,” the suit states. 

Williams met Azalea back in 2008 when she was 17 and living in a Houston hotel. Williams, who was 33 at the time, touted himself as a “partner in an oil company” that was ordered to pay $3.6 million “for operating in a manner akin to a Ponzi scheme,” according to Azalea's legal documents. 

Azalea later moved in with Williams — unaware that he was married with children — and the two set out to build her career. During that time, she recorded several songs which Williams plans to release as an EP titled Inizio, this month. The suit asserts that the music was “never approved by Azalea for commercial release.” 

One obvious grievance missing from her complaint is the rumored sex tape. Now 24, Azalea maintains that she was underage at the time, and never consented to being filmed. Williams says she was 18 and well aware of the camera. Although there’s no mention of the dirty movie, the lawsuit could help her stop its release. If the contract Williams claims she signed is proven to be forged, he will not have the legal right to premiere any recording "embodying visual images" of Azalea.

In an interview, Williams contended to meeting Azalea when she was a minor but denies doing anything with her until she was legal. “It never started out business,” he said. “It was definitely pleasure first. Her passion to do what she wanted to do, forced me to be there, to guide her in the right direction. If you love somebody you want what’s best for them and you want them to achieve their goals and dreams. I wanted it for her just as bad because I knew she would shock the world.”

Williams went on to say that he’s “extremely proud” of Azalea’s success. “She is doing exactly what I thought she would and what I told her she would do. It’s a blessing to us both to see my hard work and somebody I love come [out] on top. It’s a beautiful thing,” 

Azalea on the other hand doesn’t have the same warm feelings as Williams expressed. In the lawsuit, she clearly states that Williams disregarded a cease-and-desist letter demanding that he refrain from releasing her music after he put various songs on iTunes (the company removed the tracks). 

“Because this is an exceptional” case, Azalea is asking that Williams reimburse her attorneys' fees. The suit adds, “Azalea has been damaged and will continue to be damaged by [Williams’] unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices and misleading advertising.”    

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