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The Lead Singer Of The Pussycat Dolls Is Being Sued Over Their Reunion, And It’s Also The 15th Anniversary Of Their Most Awkward Performance Ever

BuzzFeed
4 min read

The year was 2006.

A person wearing a pair of sparkly sunglasses that spell out 2006
Djamilla Rosa Cochran / WireImage for Susan Blond, Inc

Katy Perry posed with Tom from Myspace for clout.

  Amy Graves / WireImage / Getty Images
Amy Graves / WireImage / Getty Images

Every guy under the age of 22 had this haircut.

Zac Efron with  long bangs
Stephen Shugerman / Getty Images / Via buzzfeed.com

And the Pussycat Dolls weren't in the best place. Like, something was brewing.

  Robyn Beck / Getty Images
Robyn Beck / Getty Images

But thanks to them, it’s now the 15th anniversary of one of the most awkward and iconic performances of all time.

The group onstage after a performance
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic, Inc / Getty Images

I'm talking about the 2006 VH1 Fashion Rocks performance of "Buttons."

  Amy Graves / WireImage / Getty Images
Amy Graves / WireImage / Getty Images

BUT BEFORE YOU WATCH THE CLIP, most people don't know this, but the Pussycat Dolls had more than one singer. Like there were actually other people singing in the group besides Nicole.

The group posing on the red carpet of the 2008 American Music Awards
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

There was Nicole Sherzinger and there was Melody Thornton.

Nicole holding a microphone up to Melody
Jesse Grant / Getty Images

Melody, while she considered herself to be a singer, never really got a chance to sing lead.

Nicole singing with Melody standing next to her
Peter Kramer / Getty Images

In 2012, Nicole even admitted to singing 95% of the group's vocals, which, like, facts.

  Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images
Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

Sooo, back to the iconic performance. Things came to a head at the 2006 VH1 concert when Melody took the lead and started wailing.

  Ethan Miller / Getty Images
Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Nicole was clearly and visibly caught off guard. She was about to lose it.

  CBS
CBS

The 30 seconds is somewhat legendary in the fan community:

And now it's the 15th anniversary of it!

Years later, we found out Melody wasn't part of the Pussycat Dolls reunion, and now we know one of the reasons why... well, we can guess.

  X Factor UK
X Factor UK

Melody told the Mirror UK: “I was a singer, not a trained dancer, but wasn’t allowed to sing and was told I couldn’t dance."

She also said: “People would assume that I was so mad at Nicole because she sang and I didn’t. Well, no. That was her dream and it was coming true for her. I just wanted it for myself, too. I wanted the best for everyone. I’m a phenomenal vocalist; you just never heard it. But it wasn’t Nicole’s fault.

She also said: “People would assume that I was so mad at Nicole because she sang and I didn’t. Well, no. That was her dream and it was coming true for her. I just wanted it for myself, too. I wanted the best for everyone. I’m a phenomenal vocalist; you just never heard it. But it wasn’t Nicole’s fault."

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

And now let's pick up the story in modern times.

In early 2020 (just before rona), the Pussycat Dolls made their triumphant return to the stage on the X Factor UK.

They released the song "React" and honestly, no gay hyperbole, it became instantly iconic.

The video was equally legendary.

youtube.com

I mean, come on!!

youtube.com

But then the pandemic happened and their world tour was indefinitely postponed. A true pandemic loss. Gay rights were canceled.

  Comic Relief / Getty Images
Comic Relief / Getty Images

Now, a year and a half later, there's drama.

  Neil Mockford / GC Images / Getty Images
Neil Mockford / GC Images / Getty Images

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Nicole is being sued over the group's reunion.

  Joce / GC Images / Getty Images
Joce / GC Images / Getty Images

Robin Antin, who is the founder of PCD, is the one suing Nicole.

Robin is on the left, BTW.

Robin is on the left, BTW.

Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic / Getty Images

In the suit, Antin says Nicole was originally supposed to make 49% of the reunion profits, but since the pandemic canceled the tour Nicole refuses to perform until her contract is renegotiated. Apparently she now wants 75%.

  Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

The suit claims that Live Nation is demanding re-payment of the $600,000 they spent towards the tour that never actually happened.

  Neil Mockford / GC Images / Getty Images
Neil Mockford / GC Images / Getty Images

So, she's being sued.

  Neil Mockford / GC Images / Getty Images
Neil Mockford / GC Images / Getty Images

Nicole's lawyer responded via the Hollywood Reporter calling the claims ludicrous and false: "Robin’s ludicrous and false claims are a desperate attempt to divert blame for her own failures by trying to impose obligations on Nicole that simply do not exist. Robin will fail in her efforts to trade on Nicole’s hard-earned success to pull herself out of a deep financial hole she has created by her own poor business and professional decisions."

  Joce / GC Images / Getty Images
Joce / GC Images / Getty Images

Now excuse me while I watch this incredibly dramatic acoustic performance of "React." All I wish for them is happiness (and also a proper reunion tour). Seriously, please get it together so I can see this on tour!!

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