A Maricopa County woman has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Spectacular Smith, a founding member of R&B group Pretty Ricky, of sexual assault and battery stemming from an encounter at an Arizona residence last October. The plaintiff, identified as Alexis Dieng, alleges the Miami-based musician choked her during the incident and recorded part of it without her consent.
According to the complaint, filed in August and first reported by TMZ, Dieng says Smith contacted her on Instagram in October 2025 to ask for restaurant recommendations. The lawsuit claims that exchange evolved into an arrangement to meet in person, and that Smith later changed the location to a residence in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Per the same account, Dieng arrived at the residence alone around 10:30 pm the following night. The complaint alleges Smith initiated physical contact with her, placed his hands on her neck and applied pressure that restricted her ability to breathe, and engaged in sexual intercourse with her without her consent. The suit also alleges he recorded all or part of the encounter without her knowledge.
Attorney Vows to Pursue the Case
Dieng is represented by Phoenix attorney Benjamin Taylor, who told outlets, “We plan to seek justice for our client.” Taylor is a partner at Taylor & Gomez LLP and served as the first Black president of the State Bar of Arizona during his 2023–2024 term, according to ASU News.
The lawsuit was filed within Arizona's strict window for civil claims of this nature. State law requires personal injury lawsuits alleging adult sexual assault or battery to be filed within two years of the incident, according to AZ Defenders, which notes Arizona treats adult personal injury claims differently from childhood abuse claims. Civil suits like this one can proceed through Maricopa County Superior Court independent of any criminal investigation or charges, since tort claims rely on a preponderance-of-evidence standard rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, per The Simon Law Group.
The article notes that TMZ reached out to Smith for comment, and as of publication, a response had not been received.
A Career Built On Chart Hits and Later Ventures
Smith rose to fame with Pretty Ricky, the Miami-based group behind hits including “Grind With Me” and “Your Body,” as reported by TMZ. The group's 2005 debut album, *Bluestars*, peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and went Gold, powered by the top-10 Hot 100 single “Grind With Me,” according to Wikipedia. The group's follow-up, *Late Night Special*, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2007 and produced the top-20 single “On the Hotline,” according to Day After Day Productions.
Beyond music, Smith founded the social media agency Adwizar in 2014, which manages and monetizes online brand presences for public figures, according to Inc. He later launched Spectacular Academy, a platform offering digital courses on social media monetization, according to Business Insider. The lawsuit's claim that Smith first reached Dieng through an Instagram message touches on the same social platform where his business ventures are centered.
Prior Legal Scrutiny for Smith and His Group
This is not Smith's first brush with the legal system. He was arrested at Walt Disney World in December 2020 following an alleged physical altercation with a cast member during a dispute over a COVID-19 joke, but a Florida jury fully acquitted him of battery charges in April 2025, according to WDKX. The 2020 incident took place at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Smith's brother and Pretty Ricky bandmate, Diamond “Baby Blue” Smith, faced his own federal case, having been sentenced in December 2021 to 20 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud after using falsified documents to secure more than $1 million in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loans, according to XXL Mag. He admitted to spending fraudulent loan proceeds on luxury purchases and gambling. Diamond Smith was released early under the First Step Act in February 2023 after serving one year of that sentence, though he remains liable for more than $1.1 million in court-ordered restitution, per Complex.
The civil complaint against Spectacular Smith remains an unproven allegation subject to court proceedings, and no criminal charges have been reported in connection with the Maricopa County incident.
