Alesha Dixon has hit back after finding out that one of her former Mis-Teeq bandmates has launched legal proceedings against her.
Sabrina Washington, who was the lead singer of the group, claims that she is “owed thousands” in royalties going back more than 15 years.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha is alleged to have “wrongfully claimed” song-writing royalties for their first two singles Why and All I Want.
A source told The Sun: “Sabrina wasn’t listed as a writer for the tracks but it was written in her contract that she would get pay parity. She feels she is owed thousands.”
Alesha Dixon is being sued by her former Mis-Teeq bandmate Sabrina Washington (middle) (Image: Getty Images)
However, a spokesperson for Alesha responded to the claims, and said: “Alesha wrote the raps on both Why and All I Want and that is why she gets a split, the rest of the song was written by a production team… Sabrina has no reason to sue Alesha.”
They added to MailOnline: “Sabrina was the lead vocalist, but certainly not the main writer.
Alesha is alleged to have “wrongfully claimed” song-writing royalties for their first two singles Why and All I Want (Image: PA)
“In terms of the entire Mis-Teeq catalogue, Alesha does receive a larger share as she contributed more to the songs, including writing all the raps.”
However, this isn’t the first time the pair have fallen out as things went sour after management blocked Sabrina from appearing on Strictly Come Dancing — only for Alesha to shine on the BBC One show the following year.
Sabrina competed on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2009 (Image: Ken McKay/ITV)
Sabrina – who competed on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2009 – is also said to be unhappy with Alesha’s success as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.
The insider added to The Sun: “Seeing Alesha on BGT is a real kick in the teeth — especially when she was denied her own shot at reality stardom on Strictly.”
Mis-Teeq had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles (Image: ExpressStar)
Sabrina and Alesha first found fame in Mis-Teeq back in 1999 alongside third member Su-Elise Nash.
The trio had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles, with chart-topping success on the UK Singles Chart as well as across Europe, Asia, Australasia and the US, selling over 12 million records globally.
The group had originally been a quartet with Zena McNally who left in 2000.
A spokesman for Sabrina, who has also launched legal action against former label Universal, said: “We are unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
