Funk Flex and TT Torrez’s HOT 97 Beef Explodes at Knicks Game as Years of Alleged Harassment and Station Drama Come to Light
TT Torrez’s representatives accuse Funkmaster Flex of physical aggression and years of bullying, while the controversy unfolds amid growing criticism of HOT 97’s management, employee disputes and high-profile departures.
The drama surrounding New York’s legendary hip-hop radio station HOT 97 has taken another turn after a confrontation involving veteran DJ Funkmaster Flex, former station personality TT Torrez and her husband, Shadow Stokes, at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October.
Theated exchange during the New York Knicks’ ring night quickly became a viral controversy, with video circulating online and both sides offering conflicting accounts of what happened.
But according to an official statement issued on Torrez’s behalf by Now PR Agency, the incident is part of a much longer dispute involving alleged harassment, workplace bullying and a reported legal settlement with HOT 97’s parent company, MediaCo.
The statement alleges that Flex physically shoved Torrez during the confrontation inside Madison Square Garden’s Delta Lounge.
“A verbal exchange between her husband and Funkmaster Flex escalated into a physical confrontation in which Funkmaster Flex shoved her violently.”
Her representatives added:
“There is no justification for a man to put his hands on a woman, under any circumstances.”
These allegations have not been independently established, and Flex has presented a different account of the incident.
Where did the beef between Funk Flex and TT Torrez start?
While the Madison Square Garden incident brought the dispute into the public spotlight, Torrez’s representatives claim the tension goes back years to their professional relationship at HOT 97.
Both personalities were part of the influential New York radio station, but according to the statement, Torrez had allegedly endured ongoing mistreatment from Flex.
The statement says:
“Mrs. Torrez has endured years of ongoing harassment, intimidation, and bullying by her former colleague.”
Rather than engage in a public confrontation, Torrez’s representatives say she pursued the matter through legal channels.
According to the statement, that process resulted in a settlement with MediaCo HOT 97 and a non-disparagement agreement that Flex has allegedly continued to violate.
Neither the terms of that reported settlement nor the alleged violations have been independently verified.
The statement also makes clear that Torrez’s representatives believe the confrontation at Madison Square Garden was connected to those earlier issues.
“The events of October 20 were a painful continuation of what she has been dealing with privately.”
The allegations raise questions about what was happening behind the scenes at HOT 97 and how the relationship between two prominent figures at the station deteriorated.
Funk Flex claims Shadow Stokes was trying to provoke him
Flex, however, has offered a different version of events.
Following the incident, the veteran DJ took to social media, disputing claims that he had been punched and accusing Shadow Stokes of trying to provoke a confrontation.
Flex also questioned Stokes’ involvement in record promotion and suggested the encounter was an attempt to create grounds for a financial lawsuit.
In the social media material circulating after the incident, Flex questioned why Stokes was confronting him and accused him of throwing a drink.
Torrez’s representatives rejected the idea that the circulating video provided a complete account of the confrontation.
Their statement says:
“The brief video circulating online does not tell the full story.”
They also characterized Stokes’ actions as those of a husband defending his wife.
That account remains disputed, and the available footage does not independently establish every allegation made by either side.
TT Torrez says she will not engage in social media drama
Despite the growing attention, Torrez’s team says she does not intend to turn the dispute into an ongoing public argument.
Her representatives stated:
“Mrs. Torrez will not engage in online arguments, public theatrics, or any back-and-forth that distracts from the seriousness of what occurred.”
The statement further emphasizes that she intends to continue addressing the matter through legal counsel.
Her publicist also thanked Madison Square Garden for allegedly intervening and removing Flex from the building.
The statement concluded by requesting privacy as the matter proceeds through the appropriate legal channels.
HOT 97 was already facing turmoil before the confrontation
The latest controversy comes during a turbulent period for HOT 97, a station that has helped shape New York hip-hop culture for decades.
In recent months, the station has faced criticism over programming changes, high-profile departures, employee compensation disputes and management decisions.
TT Torrez and DJ Enuff were among the personalities affected by programming changes in 2025.
The station also parted ways with its longtime morning-show team of Ebro Darden, Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg in December 2025.
The former hosts have since spoken publicly about their dissatisfaction with MediaCo.
Rosenberg and Ebro have discussed arbitration proceedings over compensation they said was owed to them, while Stylez reportedly pursued a separate pay-related dispute.
The outcomes and financial details of those proceedings have not been publicly established.
Meanwhile, current HOT 97 morning personalities The Kid Mero and Kaz have also criticized the station’s management.
Kaz publicly described HOT 97 as the worst workplace of his career, while Mero questioned whether the station’s leadership was providing its talent with the resources necessary to succeed.
Former contributors have additionally raised allegations involving unpaid workers, furloughs and other financial concerns.
Those claims remain separate from the allegations involving Flex and Torrez, and they have not all been independently verified.
Nevertheless, the repeated public complaints have created mounting questions about the station’s internal culture and leadership.
