St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red could be on the hook for a $5 million default judgment after failing to respond to a lawsuit that accuses her of doxxing her child’s grandmother and urging fans to attack her.
Nicole Barnes, the paternal grandmother of one of Sexyy Red’s two children, filed the suit in St. Louis County in March 2025. The complaint alleges that in early December 2024, the rapper — born Janae Wherry — posted Barnes’ home address and a photo of her Hazelwood, Missouri residence on Facebook and told followers to “kick the door in” and “conduct acts of violence” against her.
Barnes, 51, says she and her family left the house out of fear for their safety. She has since struggled to find comparable housing she can afford and began therapy to deal with what she describes as ongoing fear and distress. The lawsuit seeks damages for assault plus intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Barnes’ attorney, Steven Weaver, has said the dispute grew out of conflict between Sexyy Red and the child’s father — Barnes’ son — and that his client had nothing to do with it. “We did try to informally resolve it, and her attorneys thought it was a joke,” Weaver told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “And now they’re finding out it’s not.”
The case sat for more than a year. According to court filings reported Thursday, Sexyy Red still has not answered the complaint. After ordinary service attempts failed, Barnes’ side served her by publication in a newspaper. She is now asking the court to enter a default judgment for the full $5 million. A judge has not yet ruled on the motion.
Sexyy Red, who rose to national attention with “Pound Town,” “Get It Sexyy,” and “SkeeYee,” has not publicly commented on the allegations. She is the mother of two young children.
Default judgments are not automatic. Courts can still allow a late response or reduce damages even if a defendant fails to appear. Until the judge rules, the $5 million figure remains a request, not an awarded verdict. The case, however, puts a spotlight on how quickly personal family disputes can escalate when a large social-media following is involved.
