Pras Michel is accusing the New York Post of damaging his reputation and potential business deals. On Wednesday (Oct. 8) the former Fugees member filed a $30 million defamation lawsuit against the paper over a story claiming he pulled out of a “Fashion for Charity” 9/11 event thrown by his Hope for Them foundation.

According to his complaint, which was filed in Broward County, Fla., the gig in question wasn’t for 9/11. Pras also asserts that he has “never owned nor been an owner, director or officer of the Foundation” and is merely a “good friend of the organization.”  

The Post story, published last Sunday, states that his non-profit lied about MTV sponsoring the event, bounced a check to the venue and never registered the charity with state officials. “The drafting, publishing and dissemination of the Article was accomplished with reckless disregard for the truth,” Pras’ legal documents state. “The reckless ‘reporting’ would be deemed as such had a high school student drafted the Articles. However, the authors are seasoned, experienced ‘investigative journalists’ employed by one of the most widely circulated newspapers in the world.”

He contends to have spent much of his life doing charity and goes on to state that he is “currently in the process of attempting to effectuate major transactions” of “international importance.” The article could jeopardize said “transactions,” including joining in on a $2.2 billion bid to purchase the Plaza Hotel, along with two other lavish hotels in New York City. 

Pras says the he’s received “countless” phone calls from “high-profile businesspeople with inquiries relating to the Article.”

The Post has yet to comment publicly on the suit.    

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

(Photo: Desiree Navarro/Getty Images)