The legal battle between Megan Thee Stallion and blogger Milagro Gramz, alongside rapper Tory Lanez, is heating up as the defamation trial officially begins. On November 17th, Milagro Gramz took the stand for her initial testimony, while Tory Lanez faced a significant setback, being held in contempt of court.
Tory Lanez Faces Contempt Charges
The opening day of the trial saw Tory Lanez and his attorney, Crystal Morgan, found in contempt of court. According to court filings obtained by TMZ, Megan’s legal team claims that attempts to depose Lanez for sworn testimony were repeatedly disrupted by his behavior. The most recent deposition on November 15th allegedly saw Lanez storm out and hurl expletives at counsel.
Furthermore, Lanez’s attorney is accused of attempting to coach him and failing to ensure proper answers, leading to her also being held in contempt. The judge imposed a $20,000 fine on Tory for obstructing Megan’s deposition efforts and a $5,000 fine on Morgan for her role in the obstruction and professional misconduct.
The Basis of the Defamation Case
This defamation case stems from a 2024 lawsuit filed by Megan Pete (Megan Thee Stallion) against Milagro Gramz (born Milagro Cooper) and Tory Lanez. Megan alleges that Milagro Gramz accepted payment from Tory Lanez to orchestrate a smear campaign against her, particularly after Lanez’s 2020 conviction for shooting Megan. Lanez is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for that crime.
A key element of the lawsuit, which a judge allowed to proceed in February, involves Megan’s claim that Milagro Gramz violated Florida law by sharing a pornographic deepfake video of the rapper. While Milagro’s defense argued she merely “liked” the post on X (formerly Twitter), the judge found her actions went further, effectively exhibiting the video on her account’s ‘Likes’ page and directing viewers to it.
Testimony and Evidence Presented
In federal court on Monday, Milagro Gramz testified that she only “spoke” about the deepfake video and did not share it directly. Her attorney argued that she never posted or distributed the video, a crucial point in Megan’s allegation that Milagro knowingly promoted the doctored sexual image. Jurors were shown the explicit video and heard audio recordings of Milagro discussing the video, speculating about its authenticity, and making disparaging remarks about Megan Thee Stallion, including comments about wanting to “slap” her.
Megan’s legal team, led by attorney Marie Hayrapetian, presented the case to the jury, emphasizing that Milagro, despite not being present during the 2020 shooting, allegedly used the incident and Megan’s subsequent trauma as an opportunity to build her own platform. The prosecution argued that Milagro “turned attacking Megan into her brand” and coordinated with Tory Lanez’s team.
- Megan Thee Stallion filed a defamation lawsuit against Milagro Gramz and Tory Lanez.
- The case involves allegations of a smear campaign and the sharing of a pornographic deepfake video.
- Tory Lanez faces contempt charges and fines for disrupting depositions.
- Milagro Gramz testified that she only “spoke about” the deepfake video.
- Jurors were shown the explicit video and heard audio of Milagro Gramz’s comments.
What are your thoughts on the ongoing defamation trial? Do you think Milagro Gramz’s actions constitute defamation? Share your opinions in the comments below!