The city of Annapolis, Maryland, is displeased with Toni Braxton. The “Unbreak My Heart” artist was supposed to be the inaugural recipient of a star on the Maryland Walk of Fame in Annapolis, with the ceremony planned for September 2024. However, Ruby Blakeney, the executive director of the organization, informed The Baltimore Sun that they will “no longer be honoring [Braxton] with a star” because she “walked away.” Blakeney noted that the star had already been created and paid for before Braxton’s withdrawal, though the reasons for her decision remain unclear.
Blakeney explained to the local news outlet that they intend to use a model similar to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, which charges $75,000 for the creation, maintenance, and installation of a star. However, she mentioned that a star on the Maryland Walk of Fame would cost “much less,” without specifying an exact amount.
Legal action against the R&B singer is now being contemplated. In light of Braxton’s absence, Blakeney stated that another recipient would be honored, though this individual has not yet been publicly identified.
Braxton has a history of legal troubles, having filed for bankruptcy twice during her career—first in 1998 and again in 2010. In her initial bankruptcy case, she sued her record label, LaFace, alleging that she was left broke despite selling millions of albums globally. This resulted in the label paying her $20 million, and she was required to keep the settlement details confidential under a gag order for ten years. In her second bankruptcy, Braxton had to end her popular Las Vegas residency due to a lupus diagnosis, which prevented her from fulfilling her contract. This bankruptcy case was resolved in 2013.
