T.I. and Tiny Controversy, Source of the Allegations

Justin M. Howard | March 12, 2021

Clifford (T.I.) and Tameka (Tiny) Harris are being accused of trafficking, drugging, and coercing women into having sex with them and close friends. The couple has vehemently denied the allegations against them maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual. The court of public opinion is already weighing in on the T.I. and Tiny controversy. News outlets are reporting incorrect numbers of alleged victims. Who is the source behind the allegations?

How did the T.I. and Tiny allegations become public?

Sabrina Peterson, a former friend of the couple made headlines in January when she alleged that T.I. threatened her at gunpoint after she got into an altercation with his assistant. Afterwards, she accused T.I. and Tiny of rape and claimed that over 100 women reached out to her to discuss their experiences. Peterson posted video interviews, phone calls and text messages of alleged victims stories on her Instagram account. 

Once the stories started circulating on social media, lawyer Tyrone A. Blackburn, approached law enforcement in California and Georgia to seek a criminal investigation on behalf of 11 people who said they were victimized by the couple or people in their entourage. The New York Times wrote an article interviewing 5 of the alleged victims with their friends and family. They detailed graphic accounts of rape made by two women. The women in the NewYork Times article are being counted as ‘new people’ when the media and gossip blogs, report on the case . 

The Source – Who is Sabrina Peterson?

Most reports claim she is a successful entrepreneur and an outspoken activist for black rights. However, Peterson has a past of questionable business practices and a history of violence. In 2013, she was criminally charged for attempted murder, assaulting a 19 yr old woman who babysat for her with a razor blade. According to T.I. and Tiny’s lawyer : “The Harrises have had difficulty with this woman for well over a decade. They are taking this matter very seriously.”

Peterson has also been in heavy communication with tabloids and was even quoted as saying: “I got a call today from a documentary team so we’re going to go ahead and let the girls tell their story like in the R. Kelly show, to get them some therapy, too, so they can process their pain.” 

Did the couple try to settle the case privately?

Blackburn stated that T.I. and Tiny’s lawyer, Steve Sadow, contacted him “to try and work out a deal”. Sadow issued a statement about their interaction: “That is patently false,” he continued: “I reached out to see if he would share any information since his name was posted on Instagram as the attorney for Sabrina Peterson. Blackburn repeatedly refused to provide the names of his accuser-clients or any corroborating or supporting evidence of his groundless claims. The Harrises repeat that they are confident if a thorough and fair investigation is conducted, no charges will be brought.”

How many people are accusing T.I. and Tiny of sexual assault and do they know each other? 

There are a variety of claims but the number of people alleging sexual assault is unknown. Most reports are one sided, only coming from Sabrina Peterson’s camp. New York Times interviewed 5 women, and Blackburn alleges there is a young male victim, the son of Sabrina Peterson. Reportedly, the 11 people being represented by Blackburn “do not know each other”. As of yet, there hasn’t been an investigation into the social media accounts to confirm any communication or lack thereof.

T.I. took to Instagram to offer an alleged motive for the recent events. “If a person does not have any right to criminally or civilly have you in court. The best thing they can do is get you for a defamation suit. It doesn’t matter as much what they can prove you did, it matters what you can prove you didn’t.”