In a significant legal victory, Grammy-winning rapper and songwriter Megan Thee Stallion has successfully won her defamation lawsuit against blogger Milagro Cooper, who is widely known online as Milagro Gramz. The verdict was delivered by a Florida jury, which found Cooper guilty of harassment and defamation against the artist in the aftermath of the high-profile 2020 shooting incident involving singer Tory Lanez.
The Verdict and Adjusted Damages
The jury ruled in favour of Megan Thee Stallion, awarding her USD 75,000 in damages. However, this amount was later adjusted by US District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga to USD 59,000. The lawsuit, initially filed by Megan in October 2024, accused Cooper of acting as a "paid surrogate" and "mouthpiece" for Tory Lanez. Megan alleged that Cooper conspired to defame her after Lanez was sentenced to a decade in prison on three felony charges related to the shooting.
Allegations of Harassment and Deepfake Circulation
A central and disturbing allegation in the case involved a sexually explicit deepfake video. Megan Thee Stallion accused Milagro Cooper of not only circulating the fabricated video but also actively encouraging her followers to view it, despite being aware it was fake. During her emotional testimony, Megan described the profound impact of this online campaign. "I feel like ... to this day, I feel a little, like, defeated," she stated, as per NBC News. "Because no matter what, no matter if the video was fake or not ... [Gramz] wanted it to be real."
She further elaborated on the mental and emotional toll, telling the court, "It's really embarrassing to have to look at what the people don't know... See, in a position like that, like, I know it's not me, but to be in front of everybody else and they have to watch it -- it's really embarrassing."
Ongoing Legal Battles and Safety Concerns
This defamation win is part of Megan Thee Stallion's continued legal efforts to protect herself. Earlier this year, she secured a five-year restraining order against Tory Lanez. She testified that Lanez had been harassing her from behind bars and expressed deep fear for her safety upon his eventual release. "I feel like maybe he'll shoot me again, and maybe this time I won't make it," she said during the proceedings for the restraining order. This legal outcome against Cooper marks a crucial step for the artist in confronting the online harassment and false narratives that followed the traumatic shooting event.
