Megan Thee Stallion Wins Defamation Case Against Blogger in Miami Federal Court
Megan Thee Stallion secured a significant legal victory on Monday after a Miami federal jury ruled in her favor in a defamation lawsuit against blogger Milagro Gramz, determining that Gramz coordinated with rapper Tory Lanez to spread false claims and amplify a sexually explicit deepfake video of the artist.
After two days of deliberation, jurors found Gramz, whose legal name is Milagro Cooper, liable for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and contributing to the distribution and visibility of the deepfake video. The panel awarded Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Pete, a total of $75,000 in damages, including punitive damages. Under Florida law, the ruling also makes Cooper responsible for the rapper’s legal fees, which are expected to exceed $1 million.
One nuance of the verdict came when jurors indicated Cooper should be treated as a “media defendant,” but also concluded that she was not operating with neutrality. If the judge upholds that designation, the defamation count may ultimately be dismissed, but Cooper would still be liable for damages connected to the emotional distress and the promotion of the altered video.
Megan Thee Stallion filed the lawsuit in October 2024, alleging that Cooper acted as a “mouthpiece” for Lanez, who was convicted in 2022 of shooting her during an altercation in Los Angeles in July 2020. The suit claimed Cooper knowingly spread false statements, including accusations that the rapper lied under oath and suffered from alcoholism, and intentionally boosted the reach of the deepfake video to her audience of over 100,000 followers.
On the witness stand, the rapper described the toll the harassment took on her mental health, including the emotional impact of seeing the deepfake circulate online. “I know it’s not me,” she testified, “but to be in front of everybody else, and they have to watch it, it’s really embarrassing.” She said the video and Cooper’s commentary pushed her to a point of severe distress, recounting moments in which she questioned her own well-being and safety. Close friends, including Travis Farris, testified that the situation prompted Megan to seek treatment at a mental-health facility.
Cooper, who lives in Houston, argued that her commentary was protected under the First Amendment and denied receiving direction from Lanez. She acknowledged, however, that she received money from Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, which she claimed was for personal reasons or promotional work. She also admitted to speaking with Lanez at least once. Her former livestream moderator testified that Cooper’s coverage shifted dramatically after those interactions, suggesting that her commentary took on a biased tone.
Attempts by Megan’s legal team to depose Lanez three separate times for the civil case were largely unsuccessful. He refused to answer basic questions, including how he came to know Cooper, leading a federal magistrate judge to hold him in contempt and impose a $20,000 fine days before trial. Lanez, serving a 10-year sentence in California, did not testify.
The case is the latest legal development connected to the 2020 shooting, in which prosecutors demonstrated that Lanez fired multiple rounds at Megan’s feet, causing injuries documented through medical testimony and X-ray evidence. In that criminal trial, jurors were also presented with a jail call in which Lanez apologized, blaming alcohol and acknowledging Megan would “probably never… talk to me again.”
Monday’s verdict reinforces the court’s earlier stance in a separate proceeding, during which Megan obtained a long-term restraining order against Lanez, citing ongoing harassment. In that case, the judge ruled that Lanez must stay at least 100 yards away from the rapper and refrain from any form of intimidation or threats through January 2030.
Following the verdict in Miami, Cooper told reporters she respected the jury’s decision despite her disappointment. Megan Thee Stallion did not immediately issue a statement, but sources close to the rapper described the ruling as an important step in reclaiming her peace and reputation after years of targeted online hostility.
