Tekashi69 Sued By Japanese Tattoo Artist Who Accuses Rapper Of Making Him Look Like A Drug Addict
July 9 2021, Published 12:25 p.m. ET
Rapper Tekashi69 has been hit with new legal problems after a man he accused of using heroin filed a bombshell lawsuit.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, a Japanese tattoo artist named Takashi Matsuba is suing Tekashi69 (real name: Daniel Hernandez) and Showtime Networks.
Matsuba says the 25-year-old rapper has “created confusion and the false perception that” they are associated with each other. The tattoo artist says he has no connection with Tekashi despite the rapper ripping off his name.
The "defendant Hernandez is a convicted violent felon who has served time in prison, and on information and belief was also convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor," the artist explains.
“This action also asserts a claim for defamation arising from the defendants’ making and broadcasting the absolutely false and defamatory accusation that plaintiff is a heroin addict,” the suit reads.
Matsuba says In a Hulu documentary 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez, his name is posted on the screen during one segment. In another scene, the director can be heard saying, “a Japanese tattoo artist named Takashi would inspire Danny's new persona, Tekashi69."
In a second documentary Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine, which aired on Showtime, Matsuba says Tekashi falsely accused him of being a drug addict.
The rainbow-haired snitch said during a confessional, "There was this tattoo artist named Takashi from our neighborhood. And he was this heroin addict. He did heroin to create. He did it to get himself in his little world. He did it to be himself. And that’s where I got the name Tekashi from. And that’s who I am.”
The tattoo artist says this is false because he has never used heroin. He claims the accusation caused his reputation harm and put his job at risk.
His lawyer says, "tattooing requires the use of needles, and heroin is connected in the public’s mind with hypodermic needles.” The artist says his lawyers have demanded Hulu and Showtime edit their documentaries but have been shut down so far. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages. Tekashi has yet to respond to the allegations.