The legal battles surrounding the Tory Lanez case continue to unfold, and the latest development involves Megan Thee Stallion taking the stand in her defamation lawsuit against blogger Milagro “Gramz” Cooper. Her testimony in Miami federal court revealed the profound emotional toll the situation has taken on her, including experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Testimony of Emotional Distress
During her testimony on Thursday, November 20, Megan Thee Stallion shared the devastating impact of Milagro Gramz’s online posts. Among these were claims that dismissed the findings of the Tory Lanez trial and, most disturbingly, a deepfake pornographic video. The Houston rapper confessed that after seeing these posts, she reached a point where she ‘genuinely didn’t care if I lived or died.’
She expressed feelings of worthlessness, stating, ‘I felt like no way I mattered. No way I should even be living. I don’t want to be here. I’m tired of waking up. I just wanted to die.’ However, she also revealed a powerful reason for persevering: ‘I’m not going to kill myself because I’m not going to give them what they’re looking for.’
The Lawsuit and Allegations
Megan Thee Stallion is suing Milagro Gramz for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the promotion of an altered sexual depiction. Her hope in testifying is that sharing her truth will ‘inspire other women to want to tell their truth.’
The trial has also brought to light allegations that Tory Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, made payments totaling $3,000 to Milagro Gramz between October of 2020 and March of 2022. Gramz reportedly admitted to receiving the money but claims it was for standard promotional work and children’s birthday gifts, not for spreading falsehoods about Megan.
Impact of Trauma
Adding to the weight of her testimony, Megan Thee Stallion’s former manager took the stand, claiming the deepfake scandal alone cost her $240,000 for four weeks of therapy. This follows her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder after the 2020 shooting incident, compounded by the earlier deaths of her mother and grandmother. Her legal team is seeking to hold Gramz accountable for the severe emotional and financial damages caused by the defamatory content.
Megan Thee Stallion’s testimony is incredibly powerful. What are your thoughts on the impact of online defamation and deepfake content? Share your views in the comments below.