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The first mediation session between Jamaican music icons Derrick Morgan and Queen Ifrica has collapsed without progress, deepening the rift in one of reggae’s most painful family disputes. The attempted dialogue—part of an ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by the legendary ska singer against his daughter—ended in silence, as Queen Ifrica reportedly kept her microphone muted throughout the virtual exercise. The court has now scheduled a Case Management Session for November 6, 2025, in Jamaica’s Supreme Court.
At the center of the controversy is a series of explosive statements made by Queen Ifrica, born Ventrice Morgan, in August 2023. In videos and interviews, she accused her estranged father of sexual misconduct—claims Derrick Morgan has vehemently denied. The Morgan family filed a defamation lawsuit in June 2024, seeking a public apology and damages for what they describe as “malicious and baseless” allegations that have tarnished the ska pioneer’s reputation. The family remains hopeful that future mediation efforts will yield “more dialogue and hopefully lead to some sort of resolution.”
Despite the legal turbulence, Queen Ifrica has not slowed down professionally. The “Lioness on the Rise” singer is currently in the middle of a worldwide summer tour, which kicked off June 1 at the Westchester Reggae Festival in New York. The tour includes stops across the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean, and is expected to conclude on September 28 at Rebel Salute Miami. While she’s been silent in court-ordered mediation, her presence remains powerful on stage, where she continues to deliver her conscious reggae message to international audiences.
The defamation suit outlines that Queen Ifrica initially posted a video recalling a troubled childhood and a failed attempt to reconnect with her father as an adult, culminating in an incident at his Kingston home. Friends, family, and neighbours of Derrick Morgan have expressed disbelief at the claims, and his legal team swiftly issued a cease-and-desist letter. Instead of retracting, Ifrica reportedly doubled down, releasing another video filled with what the lawsuit calls “hyperbolic allegations” and defamatory statements on social media.
As the case unfolds, it reflects not just a legal standoff but a generational and emotional unravelling within Jamaica’s musical lineage. With both parties lawyering up—Charles ‘Advoket’ Ganga-Singh representing Derrick Morgan and Seymour Stewart retained by Queen Ifrica—the November court date looms large. And with mediation failing to bridge the gap, all eyes are now on the courtroom for the next chapter in this painful and very public family feud.
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