娱乐英语新闻:Former producer filed $35 mln suit against Lady Gaga

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Lady Gaga was sued 35 mln U.S. dollars by her former producer, who claimed the pop star squeezed him out of her lucrative career after he helped her transform to be what she is today, according to media reports Friday.

Rob Fusari, the songwriter and music producer, also the star's previous boyfriend, filed on Wednesday in New York State Supreme Court.

Fusari contended in his lawsuit that he played a key role in transforming the young lady into the pop icon now. But when their romance ended, he was cut out of her record deal and failed to be paid royalties on subsequent music sales.

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"All business is personal," said the lawsuit. "When those personal relationships evolve into romantic entanglements, any corresponding business relationship usually follows the same trajectory so that when one crashes they all burn. That is what happened here."

Lady Gaga and Fusari's relationship turned romantic and became a business partnership in May 2006. By January 2007, they cut ties to one another.

The lawsuit says the producer has been denied a 20 percent share of song royalties, 15 percent of merchandising revenue and other money he's owed. He acknowledges getting checks for about 611,000 dollars but says that isn't his full share.

Lady Gaga won two Grammys in January: best dance recording, for "Poker Face," and best electronic/dance album, for "The Fame."