Leila Wills Sues Zulu Nation, Ronald Savage for Defamation, Mickey Bentson’s Address Used in Trademark Fraud
Leila Wills with members of Hip Hop Stands With Survivors at March 27, 2023 protest against the Universal Hip Hop Museum
Chicago–Today, Metropolis publisher and journalist Leila Wills filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County against the Universal Zulu Nation, Ronald Savage, Mickey Bentson, and others believed to be Zulu Nation members for several offenses. Namely, falsely accusing her of soliciting Savage into a civil conspiracy. The complaint also says that members of the Zulu Nation engaged in a deliberate and malicious defamation campaign against her because she protested against the Zulu Nation’s perceived financial interests in the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
Wills, who has been covering and investigating the child abuse accusations against Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation for seven years, co-founded Hip Hop Stands With Survivors. After the group held a protest against the Universal Hip Hop Museum, Wills said in the complaint, the defendants launched a coordinated defamation and disinformation campaign against her and the group.
Savage sent the following statement to the media, wrote it on social media, in emails, and said on videos, “Lelia (sic) then told me that I should tell the lawyer that Bambaataa took me across state lines and molested me, which was sex trafficking. I told her that he never did that, to which she replied, "I know, but we can get Bambaataa on federal charges." I thought to myself, "Wow, she wants me to lie to the lawyer." I spoke with the lawyer, but I refused to follow Lelia's plan.”
On April 3, 2023, Savage also made an illegal and false claim with the United States Patent and Trademark Office declaring Hip Hop Stands With Survivors as his own and applied for the trademark using Defendant Bentson’s Teaneck, NJ address. Defendant Bentson operates a nonprofit called Male Awareness with rapper Ice T and uses the same Teaneck address for the organization. Bentson is a co-founder of the Universal Zulu Nation and a co-founder of the Universal Hip Hop Museum along with Afrika Bambaataa.
Trademark Fraud: 15 U.S. Code § 1120 - Civil liability for false or fraudulent registration: Any person who shall procure registration in the Patent and Trademark Office of a mark by a false or fraudulent declaration or representation, oral or in writing, or by any false means, shall be liable in a civil action by any person injured thereby for any damages sustained in consequence thereof.
Wills realized Savage cloned the organization with his own website on March 30th and she ordered him to cease and desist. He did not.
“Savage and Bentson concocted a scheme to intercept internet traffic looking for Hip Hop Stands With Survivors and to then mischaracterize the organization with disinformation, slander, half-truths, lies, and a false trademark,” Wills said in the complaint.
Leila Wills (this writer) is seeking $10,000 from each of the eight defendants which is the maximum Illinois small claims court will allow. Small claims court is usually the speediest of many court processes and she believes pursuing more than $10,000 out of Ronald Savage would be fruitless. This afternoon’s filing is awaiting a docket number and return date. Should there be any error that she has to correct, the case will be refiled once complete. April 25, 2023 Update: The court accepted Leila Wills’ case filing, case number is 20231300560, first hearing is June 13, 2023. Metropolis