You probably think you’ve seen everything when it comes to celebrity lawsuits. We’ve seen the standard "breach of contract" stuff or the classic "he said, she said" over song credits. But nothing—honestly, nothing—quite matches the sheer, head-scratching strangeness of the time Kimberly Thompson, a musician who spent seven years playing drums in Beyoncé’s all-female band, took the Queen to court.
It wasn't about unpaid royalties. It wasn't about a missed flight or a bad contract.
Basically, the Beyonce sued by former drummer headlines that took over the internet back in 2018 were about "extreme witchcraft." Yes, you read that right. Thompson alleged that Beyoncé was using "dark magic" and "magic spells of sexual molestation" to control her. It sounds like something out of a low-budget supernatural thriller, yet it was filed in an actual Los Angeles Superior Court.
The Allegations That Left Everyone Speechless
Most people don't realize how long Thompson actually worked with Beyoncé. She wasn't some random person. She was a core part of the touring unit for years. That's why when the court documents surfaced via The Blast, the industry went quiet for a second. Thompson wasn't just claiming a little bad energy. She alleged that Beyoncé had been running a campaign of harassment against her that involved high-tech surveillance and literal spells.
According to the filings, Thompson believed Beyoncé was:
- Tapping her phones and monitoring her every move.
- Casting "magic spells" to control her finances.
- Using "dark magic" to cause "extreme exhaustion" and the loss of jobs.
- Even, most tragically and weirdly, murdering her pet kitten.
The drummer sought a temporary restraining order. She claimed she needed protection from the "dark energy" coming her way. It’s hard to wrap your head around someone you’ve seen on stage for seven years suddenly filing paperwork that claims you’re a practitioner of the occult.
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Why the Case Was Dismissed So Quickly
The legal system isn't really set up to handle "magic spells."
Unsurprisingly, a judge in Los Angeles denied the request for a temporary restraining order almost immediately. There just wasn't any evidence. You can't exactly bring a "spell" into a courtroom as Exhibit A. Thompson had a hearing scheduled for October 11, 2018, but the case basically evaporated because, legally speaking, there was nowhere for it to go.
Beyoncé, true to her usual style, said absolutely nothing. Her team didn't even put out a formal "this is ridiculous" statement. They just let the court do its thing.
There's a reason for that. When you’re at that level of fame, people throw wild accusations at you constantly. If she responded to every claim of "witchcraft," she’d never have time to drop another album. Honestly, the silence probably helped the story die down faster than a PR battle ever could have.
The "Mohawk" Incident and Control
One of the more grounded details Thompson mentioned in past interviews—way before the lawsuit—was about her hair. She told the NZ Herald back in 2016 that she had to get Beyoncé’s approval before she could cut her hair into a mohawk.
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"I couldn't have done it without Beyoncé's approval," she said at the time. "I had to show it to her... It's a part of her packaging and branding."
This gives us a little glimpse into the reality of working for a global icon. It’s not just a job; it’s a brand. Every person on that stage is a visual asset. For some, that level of control is just "part of the gig." For others, maybe it starts to feel like something more oppressive over time. Does that lead to a lawsuit about witchcraft? Probably not for most people, but it shows the pressure cooker environment of a world-class tour.
Other Times Beyoncé Faced the Gavel
The Beyonce sued by former drummer saga isn't the only time the singer has had to deal with the legal system. She’s a magnet for litigation, though usually of the more "boring" corporate variety.
- The "Formation" Sample: The estate of Anthony Barré (Messy Mya) sued her for using his voice in "Formation" without permission. That one actually had some legal teeth and was eventually settled out of court in 2018.
- Website Accessibility: In 2019, a blind woman named Mary Conner sued Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment. She argued that the official website wasn't compatible with screen-reading software, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- The "Feyoncé" War: Beyoncé herself does the suing sometimes. She went after a Texas company for selling mugs and shirts that said "Feyoncé." She doesn't play when it comes to her trademark.
What This Teaches Us About Celebrity Culture
The Kimberly Thompson story is a weird footnote in music history, but it highlights a real issue: the mental toll of the high-stakes entertainment industry.
When you spend years in the shadow of someone who is treated like a literal deity by millions, the power dynamic can get warped. Thompson was a world-class drummer—she even played in the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She’s talented. But the narrative of her life became inextricably linked to a superstar, and when that professional relationship ended, it clearly ended in a very dark place for her mentally.
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If you're a creator or an employee in a high-pressure environment, there are a few things to take away from the messy history of celebrity legal battles:
- Contracts are your only real shield. Whether it’s "magic" or just a bad boss, having clear terms about what is expected of you (down to your haircut) prevents a lot of heartache later.
- Document everything. If you feel like you're being harassed or mistreated, keep a paper trail that doesn't involve supernatural claims. Judges need dates, emails, and witnesses.
- The "Silent" PR Strategy works. If someone is making wild claims about you, sometimes the best move is to let the lack of evidence speak for itself.
The 2018 lawsuit was ultimately a sad end to a long professional partnership. It reminds us that behind the glitz of the On The Run II tour or the Renaissance era, there are human beings dealing with complex, and sometimes very strange, interpersonal breakdowns.
To this day, if you look at Thompson’s old performances with Beyoncé, the chemistry on stage looks perfect. It just goes to show you never really know what’s happening once the lights go down and the stage is cleared.
If you're interested in how these cases actually wrap up, you can look into the public court records for the Los Angeles Superior Court, though most of the "witchcraft" filings have long since been archived as dismissed.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to understand more about how artists protect their brands, I can break down the specific trademark filings Beyoncé has used to protect her name and her children's names. Or, we could look into the "Messy Mya" settlement to see how sampling laws have changed because of that case.