Spice’s Attorney Shoots Down Claim That Queen Of Dancehall Offered Refund To ‘Chug It’

An attorney representing the Queen of Dancehall Spice has refuted claims that the Grammy-nominated singer reneged on a commitment to ‘Chug It’ to refund the performance fee paid to her for a failed show.

At the heart of the prolonged dispute, is the time Spice was supposed to hit the stage at the September 5 staging of the popular party series in Miami, Florida.  Andrew “French” Wright, principal of ‘Chug It’, had contended that Spice, whose given name is Grace Hamilton, breached the contract and should reimburse the sum of US$38,773.42 paid to her to perform.

A recent release from ‘Chug It’ claimed that the organizers had accepted an offer from Spice to refund the performance fee.  “Spice has reportedly backtracked and has to date, failed to refund the sum, although she did not perform at the event as contracted and despite evidence supporting that full payment was made to the entertainer, some of which were put on display in her own Instagram Live,” the release said.

However, Spice’s attorney, Ayisha Robb, has shot down suggestions that her client, Grace ‘Spice’ Hamilton, had promised to refund a performance fee.

“Why would she be speaking to them when she has legal representation and when the matter has been very heated and litigious from day one? Spice is a Grammy nominee. I doubt she had any such conversation,” Robb told DancehallMag this morning.

“She has been very clear on her position so she would not be wavering on her position or on her instructions to me. I spoke to her as recently as last night and her instructions have been unequivocal: there’ll be no refund and there’ll be no apology.  She has had no conversation with the organisers of Chug It. I don’t know who they claimed to be speaking to but it was not with Grace ‘Spice’ Hamilton,” Robb concluded.

Spice is also being represented by US attorney Darrell Thompson in the matter which unfolded across social media in September.

According to ‘Chug It’, Spice’s legal team has not been able to refute that the full payment, including performance balance, per diem, and other reimbursements were made to the So Mi Like It singer.

Entertainment lawyer Alan. S. Clarke, of Greenspoon Marder LLP, is representing the organizers.

Chug It’s release added, “Based on the evidence provided to Chug It attorneys, legal action against Spice will include but are not limited to: significant damages for defamation, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, among other serious claims”.

“Chug It’s International partners are also reportedly using financial experts to calculate the extensive damage which have been inflicted to the brand and its extended partners as a result of Spice’s string of irresponsible actions which include her multiple false statements,” the release continued.

Days after the failed show, Spice had sent a release to the press titled: ‘No apology! No refund!’

The statement came after Spice defended herself on Instagram Live, following Chug It’s initial threat of legal action over the failed show and the alleged damages that ensued.

Her legal team laid out their version of the events that led to the singer’s non-performance in Miami including seven instances in which they say Spice’s contract was breached by Chug It, starting with the much-disputed time at which the dancehall artist was scheduled to perform.

“She was not required to perform before 9 p.m. The contract stipulated she would perform no later than 11:30 p.m. without any mention of an earlier performance time,” their release had said.

However, Chug It has contended that Spice breached the contract by arriving at the Miami venue at 9:25 p.m., despite being paid in full, six hours before the agreed performance time.

Spice’s lawyers also contended that Chug It had tarnished her reputation.