Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty tells a judge settlement talks are over

Kenneth Petty, who is married to hip-hop star Nicki Minaj, told a federal judge that settlement talks in Jennifer Hough's harassment suit against him are not worth pursuing, AllHipHop reported on August 12 as an exclusive. Magistrate Judge James R. Cho held a status conference on August 11 in the Eastern District of New York, certified that discovery is complete and set new deadlines in the five-year case. The judge's order found that the "parties do not believe settlement discussions would be productive at this time."

Hough sued Petty and Minaj in 2021 for $20 million, alleging harassment, witness intimidation and emotional distress, and saying the couple pressured her to recant testimony so Petty could get off the sex offender registry. Minaj was dismissed from the suit in 2022, leaving Petty as the only remaining defendant. Petty was convicted in 1995 of first-degree attempted rape over a 1994 incident involving Hough, served roughly four years in prison and has carried sex offender status since his release.

Cho gave Hough until August 12 to confirm in writing her withdrawal as an expert witness, a step that comes with prejudice and cannot be undone. The parties must submit a joint pretrial order by October 12.

Hough's attorney Tyrone Blackburn has accused Petty of stonewalling discovery, telling the court his "refusal to produce tax returns and financial records" violated a direct order; Petty has denied Hough's allegations throughout the case and has fought to keep his finances out of it.