Story Highlights
The Michael Jackson estate confirmed on July 15, 2025, that Sexyy Red did not receive permission to sample “Beat It” for her new song. A spokesperson for the estate described the use as unauthorized after the St. Louis rapper shared a snippet of the explicit cover online.
Sexyy Red recently shocked social media by previewing a bold and explicit version of the 1983 hit. The rapper delivered her lyrics over the legendary instrumental, sparking immediate viral debate among music fans.
The estate of the King of Pop quickly distanced itself from the project following the online buzz. Many fans wondered if the legendary estate had softened its strict stance on licensing his catalog.
Estate claims zero knowledge
Journalist Loren Lorosa broke the news after speaking directly with a representative for the Jackson estate. The spokesperson made it clear that the team had no prior contact with the rapper.
”We were totally unaware of this. The use of the music is unauthorized.” The spokesperson told Lorosa.
The estate reportedly expressed significant unhappiness regarding the nature of the cover. This move follows a period of transition for other artists, such as when Ye delayed his Bully release date due to separate business hurdles.
Explicit lyrics spark “Beat It” dispute
The remix features Sexyy Red’s signature raw style and sexually charged lyrics. She flipped the classic “just beat it” hook into a command for her partner to “just eat it” instead.
The snippet includes lines about her pussy acting right and her being super tight. These lyrics stand in stark contrast to the original song’s message about walking away from a fight.
This legal friction arrives as the industry watches major collaborations closely. Red recently faced another hurdle when Nicki Minaj rejected a Drake collaboration that would have featured the St. Louis star.
