Key Takeaways
- Maya Moody wrote on X, “Still being harassed. Court is in February,” without naming Talib Kweli or identifying the case, court or exact date.
- Their dispute began in July 2020 after Moody commented on colorism; she says Kweli’s supporters sent violent and sexual threats, while Kweli denies cyberharassing her.
- Kweli sued Jezebel, G/O Media and writer Ashley Reese in 2022 over coverage of the dispute, seeking about $300,000; he did not name Moody as a defendant.
Maya Moody, whose 2020 exchange with Talib Kweli turned into a six-year dispute, says she has a court date coming up in February.
On Monday, Moody posted on X from her account @moneyymaya, "Anyways still being harassed. Court is in February. Love you."
The post does not mention Kweli. It also doesn't say what the case is, who is involved, or which court will hear it.
The feud started on July 9, 2020. Moody, a student and activist, replied to a Twitter list of rappers with Black wives that included Kweli: "Literally almost all of them are married to lightskinned women but that's a conversation for another day."
Kweli fired back, "Nah let's have this convo today. Are we talking all of my relationships? My children's mother as well? Or are you only talking about who you think I'm currently in a relationship right now? I mean, is any of this really any of your business?"
He kept posting about her, and at one point he warned, "I can go for 13 years if you come for my family. I'm just getting started."
Moody said people who jumped to Kweli's defense sent her threats of violence and sexual abuse, and she shared screenshots of the messages. She later called the experience "draining and overwhelming” in an August 2020 interview with Jezebel.
Kweli said he was leaving Twitter for Patreon, and soon after, the platform permanently suspended his account for "repeated violations" of its rules. A Change.org petition later asked Instagram to ban him for the "targeted and continued harassment of Maya Moody" and collected 4,777 verified signatures.
Kweli has denied the accusations. "Maya Moody is a liar. I've never cyber harassed anyone in my life," he told Jezebel.
In August 2022, Kweli represented himself in a suit against Jezebel, its parent company G/O Media, and writer Ashley Reese over the outlet's 2020 article. He filed in New York Supreme Court and claimed negligent infliction of emotional distress. He sought about $300,000. Moody was not named as a defendant.
A G/O Media spokesperson said the suit "has no merit" and that the company would seek attorneys' fees, per Complex.
Moody has said for years that the harassment never stopped.
"His fans are literally still harassing me to this day,” Moody wrote in an August 2022 tweet. “He has continued to mention me in interviews, live appearances, etc for over a year and a half. All because I vaguely mentioned colorism and never said his or anyones name."
