C.J. Wallace has won a defamation case against former collaborator Jonathan Hay, following months of legal disputes over allegations involving Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Court documents obtained by Complex show a default motion was entered in Wallace’s favor on May 6 after Hay failed to respond to the lawsuit.
Wallace, whose parents are The Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans, sued Hay last year over comments made during several interviews. In those appearances, Hay accused Wallace of participating in or witnessing alleged criminal conduct connected to Diddy, also claiming that Wallace engaged in sexual relations with the Bad Boy Records founder and accused him of facilitating a sexual assault involving Combs.
Wallace denied the allegations and argued that the statements were defamatory.
According to court filings, Wallace attempted to serve Hay 17 times at two separate Florida addresses before resorting to substitute service. Hay allegedly declined to answer the lawsuit, which cleared the way for the default ruling.
Wallace and Hay worked together on the 2020 single “Ready to Dance,” part of a planned remix project tied to Biggie’s legacy recordings, but things broke down between them. Additional songs tied to the project were ultimately shelved, and Wallace later claimed the partnership dissolved because of “creative differences,” weak commercial interest, and Hay’s alleged “erratic behavior.”
Wallace also alleged the public accusations became part of a “calculated smear campaign” after the project fell apart.
Hay’s separate sexual assault lawsuit against Wallace and Diddy is still pending in Los Angeles Superior Court.
