Exotic Dancers Sue Floyd Mayweather for Wage Violations, One Alleges He Slapped Her During Pay Dispute

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is facing a new lawsuit filed by exotic dancers from his Las Vegas strip club, Girl Collection, accusing the retired boxer of wage violations and assault. According to the lawsuit, filed on Monday in Clark County District Court, the dancers claim they were denied proper wages and were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees. One dancer also alleges that Mayweather physically assaulted her after she confronted him about her pay.

The dancers are suing Mayweather and his sister, Deltricia Howard, who co-manages the club, for failing to pay minimum wage and requiring them to share tips with other employees, which they claim violates labor laws. The lawsuit also includes allegations of retaliation, with one dancer accusing Mayweather of slapping her when she questioned her pay.

The suit details that Mayweather personally controls the dancers’ work schedules and even decides how much of their tips are retained by the club. In a particularly disturbing claim, one dancer says Mayweather slapped her in the face on April 23, 2023, after she confronted him about unpaid wages. She alleges Mayweather followed her to the locker room, dismissing the slap as a joke, and that she was later fired for raising concerns about her pay and her involvement in this legal case.

The lawsuit marks the second legal battle involving the dancers and Girl Collection. A similar case was filed last year in federal court but was dismissed in August before being refiled in state court, this time including the assault accusation.

Matthew Thomson, the attorney representing the dancers, claims text message evidence shows Mayweather, referred to as “Champ” in the messages, was directly involved in coordinating with the dancers about their shifts and other club operations. “We strongly believe that Girl Collection exploited its entertainers and violated wage laws, with Mayweather playing an active role in it,” Thomson said.

Despite the lawsuit’s claims, Mayweather’s attorney, Felton Newell, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them a “legal shakedown.” Newell also denied that Mayweather owns the club. However, in 2016, Mayweather publicly announced on social media that he was launching the club, saying he was just months away from opening his own strip club in Las Vegas. The club’s branding prominently features Mayweather’s “TMT” logo, short for “The Money Team.”

This lawsuit adds to Mayweather’s troubled history with accusations of violence against women. In 2003, he was convicted of misdemeanor battery after two women claimed he punched them at a nightclub. In 2012, Mayweather served two months in jail for domestic violence after an argument with his ex-girlfriend, which took place in front of their children. A separate civil lawsuit filed by a former fiancée alleging physical abuse was dropped in 2021.

The dancers are seeking back pay, damages, and a legal ruling that they be recognized as employees, not independent contractors. Mayweather, who retired undefeated with a 50-0 record in 2017, continues to participate in exhibition boxing matches, with his latest fight against John Gotti III in August.