A federal judge has ruled that Megan Thee Stallion and Roc Nation must face trial in a lawsuit from a former cameraman who claims he was forced to witness the rapper engage in sexual activity in a car during a European tour.
In a ruling on Friday (Aug. 7), Judge Gregory H. Woods declined to dismiss multiple allegations from videographer Emilio Garcia, who filed a sensational lawsuit in 2024 containing serious accusations against the rapper.
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The ruling indicates that Megan and Roc will have to face a jury trial regarding some of Garcia’s claims, including accusations of failing to pay appropriate wages, discrimination under New York law, and retaliation for his complaints about pay.
A representative for Megan and Roc Nation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Garcia’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, expressed gratitude to the judge and stated that his client was “looking forward to having his day in court.”
In a May 2024 lawsuit, Garcia alleged that Megan and Roc Nation created a hostile work environment due to the purported car-sex incident, which he claims occurred during their tour in Spain in 2022. He stated that the incident left him “embarrassed, mortified, and offended,” and that they retaliated by reducing his work hours and ultimately terminating him.
Megan’s legal team has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the allegations as “false and fabricated.” They asserted that Garcia had taken “routine” complaints about his wages and added “sensationalist false allegations of sex, debauchery, and workplace harassment solely to create media attention.”
“Plaintiff is a con artist manipulating the judicial system to act as his publicist and bullhorn in a desperate attempt to revive his failed singing career while attempting to undermine the successful career of Megan Thee Stallion,” wrote the star’s attorney, Alex Spiro.
However, after more than two years of litigation, the case is proceeding to trial following Friday’s ruling. The judge dismissed certain claims, including those alleging retaliation for complaining about the car-sex incident. Nonetheless, the judge indicated that enough evidence exists for a jury to potentially side with Garcia on his discrimination claims, wage accusations, and retaliation related to the wage dispute.
