Andra Day Claims Former Manager Stole $1.6 Million Amid Dueling Lawsuits

Fresh legal action in Los Angeles has brought a bitter financial dispute between singer-actress Andra Day and her longtime manager, Jeff Evans, into the public eye. Evans filed suit on Monday, alleging that the artist, whose legal name is Cassandra Monique Batie, failed to pay him more than $850,000. The claim is based on a management agreement granting him a 40% cut of her publishing royalties and a 20% commission on other earnings. These include a publishing advance from the company Kobalt—a major independent music services firm that works with artists like Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl—and her income from the Netflix horror movie "The Deliverance." Evans further contends that from 2012 to 2017, he personally subsidized her career, as her expenses consistently exceeded her income.

In a swift response filed Tuesday, Day countersued, labeling the 40% publishing royalty as predatory and asserting that several key financial arrangements had legally expired in June 2023. Her filing levels serious accusations, claiming Evans was "caught red-handed stealing" a $600,000 recording fund and an additional $1 million from her music revenue. The countersuit alleges these actions created a severe financial crisis for the artist, leaving her unable to cover basic living expenses, manage over $300,000 in credit card debt, or fund a planned tour. Day is demanding a full forensic accounting to investigate what her legal team calls a "web of deceit" and to determine if Evans actually owes her money.

This legal confrontation highlights the intricate and often fraught financial dynamics of long-term artist-manager relationships. Andra Day, who won a Golden Globe for her powerful portrayal of Billie Holiday in "The United States vs. Billie Holiday," is also widely known for her quadruple-platinum empowerment anthem "Rise Up." Her manager, Jeff Evans, operates Buskin Records—which publicly identifies Day as its sole artist—as well as the more discreet Bassline Management. According to Maria Flores, an industry analyst at the Arts & Finance Institute, "Management deals signed during an artist's formative years often contain terms that become contentious after a major breakthrough. It's common for renegotiations to be triggered by an artist's increased leverage and understanding of the business, which can lead to exactly this type of litigation."

The core of the legal conflict rests on opposing interpretations of their management contract's duration and specific clauses. Evans argues that essential terms of their deal remained in effect beyond the June 2023 expiration date cited by Day's legal team. A representative for Andra Day declined to comment when reached by Variety. As the case proceeds in a Los Angeles court, it serves as a stark reminder of the immense financial stakes and erosion of trust that can accompany the breakdown of a once-successful partnership in the entertainment industry.