Lets Talk, Hit The Link!
By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

A dozen women have come forward to accuse the rapper T.I. and his wife of sexual assault and misconduct, with some allegations stretching back more than a decade.

New York lawyer Tyrone A. Blackburn said he represents a man and 10 women “who have all been victims of” the artist, born Clifford Harris, and his wife, the singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris.

In addition, Los Angeles lawyer Lisa Bloom said she represents “two women with misconduct claims against T.I. or Tiny or both.”

“We are in the investigation phase right now, so we don’t have a statement as to their claims yet,” Bloom said.

Blackburn has asked prosecutors in California and Georgia to consider charges against the couple.

“For my clients who have survived terroristic threats and sexual assault and abuse and drugging, it never truly ends,” Blackburn said Monday in a statement to NBC News. “They live a life of mental and emotional torment which caused drug addiction, suicidal ideation, and an emotional toll on their families.”

Lawyer Steve Sadow, who represents T.I. and Tiny, categorically denied all of the allegations.

“The Harrises continue to deny in the strongest possible terms these groundless and unjustified allegations,” Sadow said in a statement to NBC News on Monday.

The allegations, which have been swirling for months, have already led to the suspension in February of the couple’s VH1 show, “T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle.”

“We are aware of the allegations, and while they are not connected to our show, we have reached out to T.I. and Tameka Harris, as well as local and state officials,” an MTV Entertainment official said last month. “Given the serious nature of the allegations, we have decided to suspend production in order to gather more information.”

Sadow said he doesn’t expect criminal charges.

“When Blackburn finally exposes his anonymous accusers to the light of day by revealing their names, we will be in a position to confront their allegations,” he said. “Hiding their identities makes it impossible for us to do so now. We fully expect if the claims are thoroughly and fairly investigated, no charges will be brought.”

The oldest allegation made by a Blackburn client, which dates to September 2005, involved a then-active-duty Air Force member stationed in Southern California.

According to a letter from Blackburn to the California Attorney General’s Office, the woman, identified only as “Tae,” believes she was drugged, possibly from a drink given to her by Tiny, before T.I. sexually assaulted her at the couple’s hotel room.

Other allegations include claims of druggings and sexual assaults in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2017.

Another client of Blackburn’s said she was 17-year-old intern in summer 2006 when she passed out after having consumed drinks and pills Tiny gave her, according to a letter from Blackburn to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office.

She woke up naked in the back of a tour bus, “bleeding from her vagina” and realizing that “her virginity was taken,” the letter says.

“Oh you’re feeling okay, pool? You’re feeling okay?” the accuser quoted Tiny as telling her, according to Blackburn. “Girl I’m jealous because my man wants you.”

A representative for the California Attorney General’s Office declined to discuss the matter: “To protect its integrity, we are unable to comment on a potential or ongoing investigation.”

The Georgia Attorney General’s Office said it “takes very seriously the allegations.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for northern Georgia declined to comment.

T.I. defended himself against all of the allegations on Instagram on Jan. 29.

“Unfortunately right now it doesn’t matter as much what they can prove you did. It matters what you can prove you didn’t,” T.I. said.

“I want to be clear about one thing: Women who have been victimized deserve to be heard. Women, Black women, in particular, should be supported, protected, defended and uplifted. However, evil has no gender. People with evil intentions have no gender. A threat comes in all shapes and sizes.”

He seemed to foreshadow a potential court defense, saying he would not “open the door to my bedroom.” He added: “Whatever we ever have done, has been with consensual adults who into what we into and like what we like. We want something, we know exactly where to go to get it.”