Exclusive: “Whitenicious” Creator Says She'll Sue LisaRaye For Slander
BOSSIP Exclusive: “Whitenicious” Creator Says She’s Suing LisaRaye For Defamation
LisaRaye Said Skin Bleaching Products Cause Cancer
An African pop singer turned skin lightening product peddler says she plans to sue actress LisaRaye for defamation after the actress claimed her brand causes cancer.
“Whitenicious” creator Dencia Sonkey said LisaRaye’s comments about the line of pricey skin whitening creams and lotions caused major damage to the brand, and there is no proof that it harms users.
“LisaRaye has caused Dencia financial loss, pain and suffering,” her rep Rebecca Matamba told BOSSIP. “Dencia has been attacked and harassed on the internet because of these fake allegations. This wasn’t just an attack on the brand, (it was) also an attack on Dencia as a person so she has said she doesn’t want a retraction anymore.”
In an interview last month on the V-103 morning show in Atlanta, LisaRaye said that “Whitenicious” caused cancer and, when used all over, leaves dark spots on knuckles and elbows.
Sonkey’s lawyers fired off a letter to LisaRaye threatening to sue her if she didn’t retract the comments.
LisaRaye made the comments while promoting her movie “Skinned,” and V-103’s Big Tigger later issued a statement distancing the radio station from LisaRaye’s comments. But Matamba said LisaRaye never took back what she said, and now Sonkey’s ready to take her to court.
We’ve reached out to LisaRaye’s rep for comment.
Matamba said “Whitenicious” made $20 million last year and was projected to make three times that amount this year before LisaRaye’s statements. She said Sonkey’s case will prove “Whitenicious” is safe and that the actress bad mouthed the products to promote her movie.
“That’s bad for any business,” the rep said, “and we plan on taking action and hopefully she or anyone else will think 100 times before mentioning the brand.”
