An event company, Esmail Entertainment, has filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against a promoter for allegedly falsifying artist agreements and keeping deposits from a cancelled Cleveland show that was “supposedly” scheduled to include rapper GloRilla.
The six-count lawsuit includes claims of fraud, civil theft and tortious interference with business expectancy, acording to AllHipHop. Esmail Entertainment, which was established earlier this year, sued Shaw Management Enterprises on August 4, alleging that the promotion company submitted fraudulent contracts and misrepresented artist bookings for an event that was set for September 6, 2025, at the Wolstein Center.
The event was supposed to feature GloRilla, Moneybagg Yo, and Skilla Baby. However, Shaw Management allegedly ordered Esmail Entertainment to stop all marketing efforts—without explaining—just two days after tickets went on sale.
Esmail’s team then contacted GloRilla’s representatives and found that she had never signed a contract to perform, according to the lawsuit.
Additionally, the complaint claims that talks between Shaw and the rapper’s camp were still in progress and had not yet been concluded. The final straw was Big Glo’s refusal to sign a contract to perform because of the alleged forgery.
The lawsuit also alleges that the agreements for Moneybagg Yo and Skilla Baby were forged. The lawsuit does not name GloRilla or any of the artists as co-defendants.
According to Esmail Entertainment, it sent Shaw Management deposits totaling over $280,000. Nevertheless, just $20,000 of that has been reimbursed. According to the company, the collapse of the event cost it almost $2.5 million in potential ticket sales.
Even after the cancellation, performance tickets are still available for purchase on resale websites, with some going for over $1,000.
After the revelation of the suspected fraud, the concert—which was expected to attract thousands of people to downtown Cleveland—was formally canceled.
Meanwhile, Memphis rapper GloRilla’s “GLO Bash” was recently held in her hometown in Downtown Memphis, according to Fox13. Fans traveled from all across the country to witness her performance at FedExForum.
Rapper Yo Gotti made a surprise appearance at the end of GloRilla’s event.
Her concert came after a rough week leading up to the event. Her home in Atlanta was broken into, and she was arrested on drug charges. She bonded out and performed, giving her fans an incredible show.
