Pamputtae Responds To Ex-Employees’ Claims Of Unpaid Wages And More
Dancehall artist Pamputtae is responding to month-long claims of being a callous, stingy boss.
The allegations started with dancer-turned-artist Pretty D, who worked with the deejay under the moniker Sherice Sophisticated. Appearing on Teatime With Shelly-Ann Curran last month, Pretty D said they fell out as the Ride It artist wanted her to work for free.
“Pamputtae just couldn’t get me fi use…” Pretty D said. “She wanted me to dance for her for free; I couldn’t do that, mi have mi daughter fi take care of. Mi couldn’t wear a shirt weh mark ‘Team Pamputtae’, so if you’re gonna hate me for that, girl you’re gonna always hate me cause mi really nuh care when it comes on to my daughter and feeding my family and myself… Mi cannot wear your brand and I’m not getting paid for it, and it was just simply that.”
She added that she was open to supporting Pamputtae out of woman empowerment, but backed out due to an unsafe work environment. Pretty D claimed Pamputtae flew her and another dancer to Barbados for a show, where a Bajan male artist served as their chaperone. After checking into a hotel, Pretty D said the male entertainer said he, too, would be staying, as it was too late for him to drive home.
“She (Pamputtae) was in her room; mi nuh know weh she did a do… When me and the other dancer inna the room and we seh we a go sleep and thing, the man come in pon we naked,” she tearfully spoke. “When the man come in pon we naked, mi call her pon the phone and me seh to her seh, ‘The man come in pon we naked enuh’. You know what was her response? She seh if a dat mi a call her fah. You see from that day, mi never talk back to her.”
On that same platform, social media star Barbara Di Barbee also broke down in tears recalling her experiences with Pamputtae. The two connected in 2017 in Jones Town, Kingston, and immediately started making online appearances together. Barbara said the Singer Mother artist was never her manager, but acted as a booking agent for several gigs.
“I didn’t sign nuh paper to her,” Barbara said. “I didn’t tell her that she’s my manager, she’s my broadcaster or nothing… Me just tell myself seh, ‘Pamputtae, me a build you and you a build me’. Remember nobody never remember her back inna the days – is me broadcast her up… So me tell her seh, ‘If you raise a JMD$100,000, give me $50,000 and you tek $50,000’. Pamputtae has been collecting behind me back and me not knowing about it.”
She described several instances where the deejay allegedly received payment for ads and only gave her chump change. Of note was JMD$8,000 she received from a $60,000 payment for a restaurant ad. She also mentioned a booking at Frenz for Real studio, payment for which she claims is still outstanding.
“Me cya forgive Pamputtae because mi cya believe a so she wicked to me,” Barbara said.
Several social media users have since flooded Pamputtae’s posts screaming justice for the women, especially Barbara. The entertainer has responded in a series of posts, with the underlying message that empty barrels make the most noise.
“The whole a dem upset because mi leave dem hanging,” the It Good artist said. “Once yuh pass my pathway and mi uncomfortable wid yuh, mi just leave yuh hanging.”
She continued in another post, “Me a nuh the type of artist weh come out and war-war with people and beat up my chest and kill up myself… A silence mi use kill all of them… Mi bring all of unno a God foot and put unno right deh so where unno belong. Him will know weh fi do with unno.”
She even addressed some of the comments, dropping grinning emojis under a remark that said Barbara money looks good on her.
Another comment read, “Yes, we understand, but weh d woman money deh?”
Pamputtae responded, “B*tch come tek it nuh,” with more grinning emojis.
Other female artists being called out by disgruntled ex-employees include international acts Lizzo and Megan Thee Stallion, each facing lawsuits surrounding a hostile work environment and sexual harassment. Both women are claiming innocence.