Zimbabwean musician and entrepreneur Tapfuma Nzara, who is also known as T-Mula, is suing online streaming service Showmax for R15 million for character defamation.
The South African-based rapper is suing Showmax after it premiered an episode of Diamond and Dolls where Global Lumi drags him for poor service delivery.
Lumi is recorded complaining to the rapper after his bartenders failed to make it on time for her birthday party preparation.
After this episode was premiered without his consent, T-Mula who runs a car rental company engaged his lawyers of Monica Molapisi Attorneys, suing Showmax for portraying his company negatively.
The Zimbabwean artist insinuated that his company has suffered a massive financial blow as clients have lost confidence with his brand following the episode being broadcasted.
The above matter bears reference
Pursuant to instructions herein, we confirm that we act for and on behalf of Mr Tapfuma Nzara and MULA VIP RENTALS (PTY) LIMITED. Our “clients” herein at whose request we address this urgent letter.
It is our clients’ instruction that on or about *07 March 2022*, Showmax premiered episodes of the “reality” tv show, Diamond and Dolls, herein after refered to as “The Show”, on Showmax’s digital video on demand platform.
Our client is pictured in the first episode of the show as incompetent and ridiculous, this being contrary to the successful reputation that my clients have cultivated over the course of 10 years.
In the first half if the episode, out client is clearly ridiculed and made to look inept and incapable of providing the customers with the services they required.
You pause to state that the customers of clients come from all corners of the world and our clients have run a successful entertainment and rental business for more years than you afore episode has been aired and or published. The business heavily rely on the connections our clients have made over the years and word of mouth referrals.
Due to this world wide publication and degradation of our clients’ brand, image and reputations on your international platform, our clients’ business has suffered a massive reputational blow and final damage, the publication has not only jeopardized our clients’ current relationships…
He added:
In implication hereof we hold instructions that at no point a release form was provided to our clients for signing prior to the publication of the episode, which form inevitably would not have been signed given the shocking portrayal of our clients’ image.
It is evident that you grossly disregarded our clients’ image and reputation upon publishing the episode without our clients consent, and there exists clear intention on your part to damage the hard-earned reputation of our clients all in the name of ‘entertainment’ and making a profit for yourselves. The publication has not only caused financial ruin to our clients but has also humilitated, scorned, disgraced and created contempt on the mind of the viewers and our clients’ customers, reads the letter.
As the result of the foregoing publication, our clients has suffered damages in the amount of R15 million.
This amount is not final as our clients continue to lose customers on a weekly bases as a direct result of the publication by you…
