A Florida jury found in favor of a lawsuit brought by rapper Flo Rida against Celsius energy drinks and granted him a total of $82.6 million in damage.
On Wednesday, a jury found Celsius guilty of violating an endorsement agreement with Flo Rida that ran from 2014 to 2018. The jury also found that the brand fraudulently withheld information from him.
In a statement, Flo Rida, whose legal name is Tramar Dillard, thanked the jury, the judge and her attorneys, saying she gained «a new respect for the judicial system.»
“This was a long journey, but we prevailed. From the beginning, he only wanted what he worked for, nothing more, nothing less,» she said in the statement, adding that she was «instrumental in the Celsius you know and love today.»
The rapper, known for songs like «Right Round» and «Whistle,» filed the lawsuit in 2021, claiming that Celsius owed him millions in additional stock and royalties under the terms of their deals.
During closing arguments, Flo Rida’s attorney, John Uustal, said his client had not sought a specific dollar amount in his lawsuit, but rather the 1% property he was promised.
In a separate statement, Uustal said that he and his client relied on the jury to navigate the «complicated legal issues» involved in the case.
«We said we would trust the jury to do the right thing, we would trust the verdict, we would accept the jury’s decision,» the statement said. «I’m glad, in this case, the jury concluded that Flo Rida should get what she worked for.»