Doja Cat's Mother Seeks Restraining Order Against Brother, Alleging Abuse
According to TMZ, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, the mother of Doja Cat, has filed for a restraining order against her son, Raman Dalithando Dlamini, who is Doja's elder brother. Legal documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and obtained by TMZ, reveal that Sawyer accuses Dlamini of both verbal and physical abuse towards her and Doja, the 28-year-old rapper whose legal name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini.
In the court filing, Sawyer alleges that Dlamini, aged 30, has inflicted physical harm on Doja, including knocking out her teeth and causing cuts and bruises on her body. The exact timeline of these alleged incidents remains unclear. Sawyer also claims that Dlamini has engaged in the destruction and theft of Doja's property. Additionally, she accuses her son of subjecting Doja to verbal abuse, speaking to her "in a very degrading and demeaning manner," resulting in her feeling "unsafe and traumatized," as per TMZ. Sawyer further asserts that Dlamini has physically abused her on multiple occasions over the past year, with threats to kill her as recently as this month.
Sawyer, who raised Doja and her brother in an ashram in the L.A. area after their
father, South African dancer and actor Dumisani Dlamini, moved back to South Africa, claims that Dlamini has a history of making derogatory remarks about Doja. In a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, Doja mentioned that her brother, Dlamini, would mock her for not having many Black friends. Alexis Haines, who babysat Doja and Dlamini in their childhood, indicated in the same profile that Dlamini had "behavioral issues" that significantly impacted the household dynamics, potentially leaving little space for Doja's feelings.
TMZ reports that Sawyer had previously obtained a restraining order against Dlamini, but it had since expired. The judge has granted Sawyer court-ordered protection pending a hearing for the restraining order. However, the request for a restraining order for Doja was denied, with the judge advising the rapper to file her own paperwork.
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