Ne-Yo Sues R. Kelly

Ne-Yo has filed a lawsuit against R. Kelly for firing him because he was more popular. In the lawsuit, filed in L.A. Superior Court against Rowe Entertainment of Atlanta, Ne-Yo (real name: Shaffer Smith) alleges that an "unknown representative of R. Kelly urged Rowe to terminate" him because of the "audience’s and critics’ more favorable reaction to Smith than the reaction to R. Kelly."

When Ne-Yo was dropped from the tour just before Thanksgiving, "contractual differences" were cited. Ne-Yo, who was set to make $785,000 for 25 dates, says he’s only been paid $50K of that, and he’s suing for that and for other compensatory damages.

Jay-Z had the same problem with R. Kelly.