Lil Peep‘s wrongful death lawsuit has finally come to a close, with the late rapper’s mother reaching a settlement with her son’s management team.
It was reported last October that the case between Lisa Womack and First Access Entertainment (FAE) was resolved “in principle,” but it was only on Friday (February 17) that it officially ended when a settlement notice was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
According to Womack’s lawyer, Paul Matiasic (via Pitchfork), terms of the settlement are being kept confidential.
“Liza has been indefatigable in her pursuit of justice for her son,” Matiasic said in a statement. “With the conclusion of the litigation, her focus will shift to shepherding his legacy and continuing to release his music for the enjoyment of his fans.”
Lil Peep (real name Gustav Elijah Åhr) passed away in 2017 following a drug overdose. His mother sued FAE for wrongful death, negligence and breach of contract, claiming the company, along with former manager Brian “Chase” Ortega and tour manager Belinda Mercer, enabled her son’s drug use and pushed him to perform when he was in no shape to do so.
FAE denied any wrongdoing in a statement issued in 2019.
The settlement between the two parties was agreed upon on February 14, according to the court filing. A trial was originally scheduled to begin on March 8.
“Today, Gus’s music came home,” a post on Lil Peep’s official Instagram page on Friday read. “From this day forward, his music will be in the care of his mother and brother, and no one else.
“It is a solemn moment for us as we reflect on the struggles of the past five plus years. We are grateful to all of the fans, friends, professionals, and family who stood by us. We were all permanently changed by Gus’s death. We know he should be here in the world with all of us, creating—making whatever he was inspired to make. But he is not. So, we will protect his music with all of our strength.”
“We look forward to continuing to release Gus’s music,” the post concluded. “This is a very important day for us.”
Lil Peep’s only studio album to be released while he was alive was 2017’s Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1. A posthumous sequel arrived a year later, and in 2019, a compilation album called Everybody’s Everything was released.
Since her son’s death, Womack has been re-releasing Peep’s self-released material, including Live Forever, Crybaby, and Hellboy. On Friday, an archival song, “Runaway (OG Version),” was uploaded to streaming services.
NEWS
In a major setback for the UK summer festival season, global drinks brand Pepsi has confirmed it is ending its relationship with Wireless Festival. The move comes after strong political criticism and public reaction to the festival’s decision to book American rapper Kanye West, who is now legally known as Ye, as a headliner.
The situation intensified this week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke out against the booking, according to reporting from The Guardian. Starmer described the decision as "deeply concerning," pointing to the artist’s past antisemitic comments and his open praise of Nazi related figures as being at odds with the values of the United Kingdom. His remarks reflect a wider position within the government that antisemitism must always be challenged firmly to protect the Jewish community and maintain public safety.
Recent releases from the rapper have added further controversy. In the previous year, he drew global criticism after putting out a song called Heil Hitler and attempting to sell products displaying swastika imagery. Although West later apologized in the Wall Street Journal and said his actions were connected to a manic episode, many critics believe his influence still presents serious concerns.
The event, which is planned for July at Finsbury Park in London, is now dealing with growing uncertainty. Aside from losing a key sponsor, there are also questions about whether West will even be able to enter the country. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the power to refuse entry if someone is considered not beneficial to the public good. These rules allow the Home Office to refuse visas to individuals whose behavior or connections could increase social tensions or encourage hate.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has already urged officials to impose a ban on his entry, while organizations such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews have described the booking as "deeply irresponsible." With a major sponsor stepping away and increasing calls for government action, organizers of Wireless Festival now face significant challenges in keeping the event moving forward.
