In a significant legal development, French Montana has settled a $1 million lawsuit related to a counterfeit watch, but his attempt to keep the case details under wraps has been denied by a federal judge in Nevada. The lawsuit, which has been lingering since last fall, centers around a controversial transaction involving a Richard Mille RM-59-01 watch.
The dispute traces back to Paris Fashion Week in January 2025, when French Montana allegedly borrowed the high-value watch from Justo Obiang and Samir Gato, longtime acquaintances. They had originally purchased the watch for approximately $450,000 in 2016, but its value had soared to over $1 million by the time the litigation began. French Montana provided one of his own watches as collateral, promising to return the borrowed piece within 30 days. However, it was later revealed that the watch he used as collateral was counterfeit, leading to a breakdown in communication with Obiang and Gato.
As the case progressed, Montana’s legal team sought to seal the court records, arguing that public access to the details of the case posed a significant reputational risk for the artist, whose name is frequently in the media spotlight. However, the judge dismissed this request, emphasizing that embarrassment alone is not a valid reason to seal court documents. The judge noted that the case had been publicly accessible since its filing on October 17, 2025, and that numerous outlets had already covered the allegations extensively.
The settlement reached between the parties occurred before the case could go to trial, but neither side has disclosed the terms of the agreement. The judge’s decision to keep the records public means that the details of the settlement will soon be available for public scrutiny, potentially shedding light on the resolution of this high-profile dispute.
In a striking move, the judge referenced one of French Montana’s own lyrics from his song “Salam Alaykum” during the ruling, stating, “it don’t matter what you do, man, they still gon’ hate you,” underscoring the complexities of public perception in the celebrity world.
As French Montana navigates the aftermath of this lawsuit, the implications for his brand and future endeavors remain to be seen. For more updates on this case and other celebrity legal battles, stay tuned to hiphopraisedmetheblog.com, your go-to source for the latest in hip-hop news and celebrity lawsuits.
