Gloria Gaynor, best known for her disco anthem “I Will Survive,” is suing one of her former producers.
In court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Gaynor claims she is owed $2 million after her former producer, Joel Diamond, and companies he controls “failed entirely to meet their obligations to keep Plaintiffs informed of how their work was being licensed and used, while unfairly demanding financial benefits to which they were not entitled by exploiting that very relationship.”
According to the complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York on July 26, Gaynor alleges that Diamond falsely claimed ownership of several of her songs, including “I've Been Watching You,” “You're All I Need to Get By” and “I Am What I Am.”
She alleges that Diamond also listed himself as a co-writer on at least one song.
Gloria Gaynor is suing her former producer, Joel Diamond, for $2 million over allegations he “improperly demanded financial benefits” from her work. (VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
'I WILL SURVIVE' SINGER GLORIA GAYNOR RECALLS HER DECADES-LONG HEALTH BATTLE: 'I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE'
“At no time did Gaynor write a song with Diamond. To her knowledge, Diamond has never been a songwriter,” the complaint states.
“Since the inception of the purported recording agreement, despite Gaynor's repeated requests for disclosure, Defendants have failed to pay royalties, provide transparency as to who Gaynor's music was licensed to, or demonstrate that Gaynor's music was protected. Payments have been made to Defendants in varying amounts, but Defendants have concealed and suppressed all payments to Gaynor.”
Joel Diamond told Fox News Digital in a statement: “The allegations are demonstrably false. The written contract is very clear and has been in place for 40 years. Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 percent of the rights. Any statement contrary to this fact is defamatory and I intend to pursue my legal rights to the fullest extent.” (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Diamond said: “I am in the process of hiring an attorney. The allegations are demonstrably false. The written contract is very clear and has been in place for 40 years. Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 percent of the rights. Any statement contrary to this fact is defamatory and I intend to pursue my legal rights to the fullest extent.”
“Payments have been made to the defendants in various amounts, but they have concealed and suppressed all payments to Gaynor.
Representatives for Gaynor did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Gaynor is a co-plaintiff with Robin Randall, a songwriter who alleges that Diamond “fraudulently claimed ownership of copyrighted works owned by Robin and unlawfully and without authorization entered into licensing agreements with Robin.”
Randall also claims that Diamond “caused his mother and songwriting collaborator, Judithe Randall, to “unfairly surrender her ownership rights to many copyrighted works” while Judithe was “seriously ill and incapacitated” and was later committed to a psychiatric institution and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Judithe Randall died in 2002.
“The allegations are patently false. Any statement contrary to this fact is defamatory and I intend to pursue my legal rights to the fullest extent possible.”
Diamond and companies he controls, Joel Diamond Entertainment, Silver Blue Productions and Ocean Blue Music, are named as defendants in the filing, which also alleges breach of contract, copyright infringement and fraud.
Gaynor's complaint also alleges breach of contract, copyright infringement and fraud. (Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images)
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Gaynor appeared on “The Masked Singer” in 2022 and told Fox News Digital at the time: “It was so much fun… the intrigue of running around in the hoodie, the mask and the gloves.”
He also reflected on his career-defining hit, “I Will Survive,” which was released nearly 50 years ago in 1978.
“It's very encouraging for me to have been able to do it.” [recorded] “A song that would last a long time and mean a lot to people, not just a song that they like but a song that helps them in their lives in the difficult times of their lives,” Gaynor told Fox News Digital about her hit, “I Will Survive.” (Michael Putland/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“It's very encouraging for me to have been able to do it.” [recorded] “A song that will last a long time and mean a lot to people, not just a song that they like, but a song that will help them through difficult times in their lives. It's amazing,” Gaynor said.
