Megan Thee Stallion Must Face Trial in Former Photographer’s Lawsuit

BY Erika Marie
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Megan Thee Stallion arrives for the CMT Awards at the Moody Center on Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Megan Thee Stallion arrives for the CMT Awards at the Moody Center on Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Austin, Texas. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Conflicting evidence over working conditions and compensation kept Emilio Garcia’s case against Megan Thee Stallion alive.

A federal judge has refused to end Emilio Garcia’s lawsuit against Megan Thee Stallion before trial. This leaves a jury to sort through competing accounts of his time working as her personal photographer. According to XXL, Judge Gregory H. Woods denied Megan’s request for summary judgment Friday, finding enough disputed evidence surrounding Garcia’s workplace claims to keep the case alive.

Garcia sued Megan, Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment, Hot Girl Touring and Roc Nation in 2024 after working with the rapper for several years. His complaint alleges that he was underpaid and subjected to a hostile work environment. He also accused Megan of repeatedly commenting on his weight and claimed his compensation structure was changed in a way that reduced his earnings. Megan’s attorneys have denied the allegations, calling them “fabricated” and describing the lawsuit as an employment dispute being dressed up with sensational claims.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Sued By Stylist For $1.2 Mil Over Alleged Unpaid Fees

Allegations Against Thee Stallion

The most widely discussed allegation stems from a 2022 trip to Ibiza. Garcia claims he was riding in a moving SUV with Megan and several women when the rapper began having sex with one of them beside him. According to the suit, he could not leave the vehicle and was later told, “Don’t ever discuss what you saw.” Megan’s legal team has disputed Garcia’s characterization of the incident and his broader account of the working relationship.

The case had already survived an earlier attempt to substantially narrow it. In 2025, Woods reportedly allowed claims involving an alleged hostile work environment and certain wage-and-hour issues to continue while dismissing others. Further, Woods found conflicting evidence on issues involving Garcia’s working conditions, compensation, and other surviving claims that cannot be settled at the summary judgment stage. His attorney, Ron Zambrano, said Garcia is “looking forward to having his day in court.”

No trial date has been set. Both sides are expected to submit estimates for how long the proceedings will take before Woods places the case on the calendar.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming the Co-Head of Original Content. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, and Amy Luciani—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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