Grammy-winning singer Marc Anthony slapped a New Jersey business partner with a lawsuit over an unpaid $1.3 million loan.
Anthony, whose real name is Marco Antonio Muniz, formerly Mr. Jennifer Lopez, invested the funds in April 2012 with an online digital-music company called ClubCreate Inc. run by Corey Simmons of Union City.
But Simmons allegedly treated company coffers like his “personal piggy bank,” diverting more than $100,000 to pay his rent, dental bills and shopping sprees, the Manhattan Supreme Court suit claims. Simmons also allegedly loaned his girlfriend money from the business and hired her mother.
Anthony was introduced to Simmons, who was named one of 2013’s Most Interesting People at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, by Anthony’s brother and manager, Bigram Zayas.
Simmons was allowed to use Anthony’s name and image to promote the company, but has refused to pay back the loan or hand over the 25 percent share of the business Anthony says he was promised, according to court papers.
Simmons is also fending off federal court claims that he looted company assets.
Simmons did not return requests for comment.