Prince’s estate is facing another legal battle as the advisors of the late musician’s assets are being sued by heirs seeking to remove them from their role. In 2016, Prince passed away aged 57 without any spouse or children, leaving his entire estate to his six half-siblings. Four years later, a years-long lawsuit concerning the division of his $156 million (£122 million) estate was finally settled with his family reaching an agreement to split it 50-50. In 2021, Primary Wave bought the rights to Prince’s back catalogue after the other half-siblings decided to sell their shares.
However, three of the half-siblings retained their shares and appointed L Londell McMillan and Charles Spicer, Prince’s longtime advisors, to manage them for the holding company called Prince Legacy LLC. A recent lawsuit filed by McMillan and Spicer accuses four of Prince’s family members – Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson, Breanna Nelson, and Allen Nelson – of trying to remove them from the company, which they claim would violate the estate business agreement. The lawsuit further alleges that the four heirs lack the experience and skills required to manage the company and would cause irreparable harm to the Prince Legacy LLC’s business and revenue streams.
The lawsuit includes the claim that McMillan and Spicer are being improperly forced out and that this action threatens “to preserve and protect Prince’s legacy.” The designers of the lawsuit also threatened that the interference of Sharon and Norrine, in particular, will make it difficult for Prince Legacy LLC to carry out business and may lead to further harm. An attorney for Norrine, Breanna, and Allen has declined to comment further.
Prince’s legacy continues to be a source of conflict as he remains one of the most important figures in pop culture. Recovered footage of him attending a teacher’s picket line when he was just 11 years old surfaced recently, highlighting his lifelong activism and dedication to educating young people. Similarly, a copy of one of his rarest and most expensive albums, “The Black Album,” sold for more than $27,500, breaking the Discogs’ record for the most expensive item ever sold. Despite these accomplishments, his estate continues to be mired in legal disputes that threaten the preservation of his immense legacy
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