Singer-actress Andra Day is embroiled in a fierce legal battle with her longtime manager Jeff Evans, with both sides trading lawsuits and accusations. Evans, who managed Day for 14 years, struck first by filing suit on October 6 in Los Angeles. He claims Day stopped paying him in 2024 and breached their contract that granted him 40% of her publishing royalties and 20% of other income. Evans alleges he’s owed at least $850,000 in unpaid commissions, seeking a judge’s ruling to collect his cut from a $1.5 million publishing advance and other earnings (including backend profits from Day’s Netflix film The Deliverance).
Day hit back the next day with her own lawsuit, calling the deal “exploitative” and painting Evans as the real wrongdoer. Her complaint says Evans was “caught red-handed stealing” — allegedly misappropriating a $600,000 Warner Records fund and siphoning over $1 million in music royalties. Day’s attorney James Sammataro didn’t mince words, writing that “Evans abused his role as a fiduciary to scam Day with blindless greed.” He added that the manager “siphoned so much money… that he left her facing eviction,” leaving the Grammy-nominated “Rise Up” singer unable to pay credit card bills or fund a tour.
Altogether, Day accuses Evans of stealing around $1.6 million and is urging an investigation into what she calls a financial “web of deceit.” Evans has not publicly commented on the theft claims, but in court documents he maintains it was Day who reneged on paying money he’s owed. Both lawsuits remain pending as the dueling parties prepare to face off in court.
