Melyssa Ford was the butt of jokes during Joe Budden’s latest episode of his podcast after announcing to listeners that her ex-boyfriend Flo Rida, won $86 million in a civil lawsuit.
The Low rapper sued the energy drink Celsius for breaching terms of an endorsement deal and won the case before a South Florida jury late last week.
“The internet started to be like, ‘Damn, I’d hate to be his ex right now,'” Budden said. “Couple of them was like, ‘Damn, Melyssa Ford gotta be sick.’ And I was like, ‘Not my co-host!’ I didn’t know nothing about that, which made this story all the funnier for me because, damn, you gotta be sick to your stomach.”
The 46-year-old media personality who dominated rap videos during the early 2000s dated the Florida-born rapper in 2011. They separated a year later.
“No, I’m happy for him,” she said about her former flame.
“You hate him!” QueenzFlip, the show’s co-host chimed in. “He won $83 million. What we talkin’ bout?” Ford then corrected QueenzFlip to say Dillard actually won $82 million, not $83 million. Ohh, that was it. We got her!”
To which Ford replied, “I hate you guys.”
Born Tramar Lacel Dillard, Flo Rida and his production company, Strong Arm Productions claimed that Celsius Holdings violated terms and conditions of a contract they signed in 2014.
According to the complaint, Dillard was an “instrumental part” in “launching a new era for the company’s brand development, growth, and expansion” and introduced Celsius to “millions around the world.”
His attorneys also accused the company of not compensating the Whistle rapper for his work on the global campaign. At the time, the company said it would pay the entertainer in bonuses and stock options. The contract also noted that Dillard would be notified when the company met key sales goals.
Shortly after the verdict was announced, Flo Rida said in a statement that he had a “new respect for the judicial system. This was a long journey, but we prevailed. From the start, I only wanted what I worked for, nothing more, nothing less.”
