Ol’ Dirty Bastard screening blocked by rapper’s widow

A special New York screening of an upcoming documentary about Ol’ Dirty Bastard had to be scrapped on Friday (15Nov13) after executors of the late rapper’s estate issued a legal notice banning the event from going ahead. Dirty: Platinum Edition, which was shot by the star’s cousin, Stephon Turner, was set to be shown at the Brooklyn Historic Academy of Music and guests, including fans and his Wu-Tang Clan bandmates Cappadonna and Masta Killa, flocked to attend the inaugural NuHo Film Festival bash.
However, moments before the film was due to be unveiled, organiser Chris Kanik revealed to the crowd that he had just been served with a cease and desist order, preventing the documentary from airing, reports AllHipHop.com.
The notice was sent to Kanik by a lawyer representing Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s estate, which is controlled by his widow, Icelene Jones.
The movie features exclusive footage and interviews with all of the late star’s Wu-Tang Clan crewmembers and the screening had been expected to include a hologram of the rapper, which would have answered questions from the audience.
It’s the second time Jones has blocked the use of her husband’s likeness being used in public – she also prevented a planned hologram of Ol’ Dirty Bastard from gracing the stage with Wu-Tang Clan at America’s touring Rock the Bells festival earlier this year (13).
Ol’ Dirty Bastard passed away in 2004 from a drug overdose.