Rebecca Ferguson is reportedly being sued by her former management company for breaching her contract. In July, the X Factor runner up tweeted “See you in court” to Modest Management – however it seems that is now a reality as they have taken official action against Rebecca.
Ooops.
You can leave but it’ll cost you…
Modest have issued a High Court writ against the singer after she terminated her arrangement with them in June. The company is seeking a declaration that Rebecca unlawfully terminated her contract, as well as damages and 20% of Rebecca’s future earnings
Ouch.
The company also represents other former X Factor contestants Leona Lewis, Olly Murs, JLS, Little Mix and One Direction.
She’s not the first to get into hot water though – Modest also sued Stacey Solomon in 2011 for breach of contract.
A messy ending
Legal papers claim that the mother-of-two signed a five-year contract with them back in October 2010, two months before the final of the talent show. However, she took steps to terminate the contract in June of this year.
The company’s legal team has cited an e-mail from the 26-year-old as proof of the claims, in which Rebecca is reported to explain that the singer was deeply miserable about her position at the time.
“I am really unhappy with how I have been treated by you over the past couple of months and how miserable I have become.”
“The deterioration of my health has not been relevent (sic) to you until this week when it reached another low point.”
“I have lost all faith and trust in you as managers so I have no option but to terminate our working relationship with immediate effect”
Company lawyers responded to the email saying they accepted her “renunciation and repudiation of the management agreement”.
Rebecca is believed to have responded saying that she “did not accept” this interpretation of events.
Retaliation
On Tuesday the Backtrack singer released a full statement on Twitter claiming that she was getting back to business.
“To my fans, all I want to say is I am happy, I am well and I am focused on work.”
“My voice is a gift, and it’s my choice what I do with it. I came into this industry, and I’ll leave this industry with a few things: my dignity, my honest and my love for music.”
A question of timing?
Modest Management have issued the writ in the same week that it has been revealed that they have been dropped as the management team for this year’s X Factor.
The company has previously had an exclusive contract on all acts since 2006, however they will now be replaced with Quest Management.