Why has US rapper Flo Rida been awarded $82.6 million in damages in lawsuit against energy drink company Celsius?

US rapper Flo Rida has been awarded $82.6 million in a lawsuit against energy drink company Celsuis. A jury in Broward County, Florida, found his contract had been breached and that he was due the large sum of damages.

In an issue dating back to 2014, Flo Rida, 43, initially claimed he was owed $30,000, but as Celsius’ fortune increased, so did the amount the music artist felt he was due.

The ‘Low’ and ‘Whistle’ rapper initially filed the suit back in May 2021 as the matter has now finally been resolved.

As Flo Rida took a sip of the energy drink in question at a press conference after the trial, PeopleWorld answers what exactly the lawsuit relates to.

Why did Flo Rida sue Celsuis?

Flo Rida successfully launched his claim that Celsuis attempted to conceal revenues from him and that its parent company - Celsius Holdings Inc. - had previously broken a deal which was previously agreed in 2014.

Speaking to AP, Flo Rida - whose real name is Tramar Dillard - said: “Basically, I helped birth this company, and all we was looking for was some trustworthy people who acted as if they were family,”

“And then when it comes down to the success of today, they just forgot about me.”

Despite the change in their relationship, Flo Rida’s legal team had pointed out that he was open to taking a one percent ownership in the company instead of his $82 million in damages.

The relationship may not be over yet as he remains a stakeholder and has spoken of his ambition to continue working with Celsius going forward

Attorney John Uustal told AP: “He (Dillard) loved the product, and it’s been a very successful four-year relationship.

“There were some benchmarks. He was supposed to get stock when certain things happened. And there became a dispute about whether those benchmarks had been reached. So that’s what this was about.”

Celsius may appeal the verdict here given by the jury, but that remains to be seen.