Megan Thee Stallion Testifies to Deepfake Trauma, Alleged Harassment in Defamation Trial
Table of Contents
Megan Thee Stallion bravely recounted the devastating emotional toll of a deepfake pornographic video and alleged online harassment during her defamation lawsuit against blogger Milagro Cooper, also known as Milagro Gramz, in a miami federal courtroom on Thursday. The Grammy-winning rapper reportedly sobbed on the witness stand as she described the profound impact of the non-consensual deepfake and the subsequent amplification of its reach.
The Deepfake and Its Aftermath
“I know it’s not me, but to be in front of everybody else, and they have to watch it – it’s really embarrassing,” Megan testified, according to NBC News. She alleges that Cooper knowingly contributed to the spread of the fabricated video,causing a notable decline in her mental health. “To this day, I feel a little, like, defeated,” Megan told the jury, adding that Cooper’s actions stemmed from a desire to portray the video as authentic, regardless of its falsity.
The civil trial centers around Cooper’s alleged role in disseminating the deepfake video and subsequent online commentary that Megan claims further damaged her reputation and caused emotional distress. Megan detailed the intense scrutiny and ridicule she faced following the video’s release, acknowledging the jokes made at her expense. She described a period of intense despair, confessing, “there was a time that I genuinely didn’t care if I lived or died. I felt like no way I mattered. No way I should even be living. I don’t wont to be here. I’m tired of waking up. I just wanted to die. I was so tired of being alive.”
Finding strength and Seeking Justice
Despite the trauma she endured, Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, expressed that her condition has improved. She stated she felt “OK” on Thursday and expressed hope that her testimony could help other women facing similar situations. “I’m not going to kill myself because I’m not going to give them what they’re looking for,” she reportedly testified.
The lawsuit does not allege that Cooper created the deepfake video itself, acknowledging that the original author remains unknown. However, it argues that Cooper caused Megan severe emotional distress by “liking” the video on her @MobzWorld account on X (formerly Twitter) on June 8, 2024, and then encouraging her over 100,000 followers to view it within the “likes” section of her profile. the following day, on june 9, 2024, Cooper allegedly shared a video with her 74,000 YouTube subscribers, directing them to her X “likes” and featuring an image of Megan alongside a chyron questioning her victimhood: “Is MTS A Professional Victim?”
Connections to Tory Lanez and Obstruction of Justice
cooper testified earlier this week that her commentary on the 2020 shooting and 2022 trial was independent of any influence from Peterson.She admitted to speaking with Peterson once, inviting him to appear on her channel, and acknowledged receiving payments from Peterson’s father, Sonstar Peterson, which she characterized as being for “personal” matters or “promotional” work.
Peterson remains incarcerated in a California prison. Megan’s legal team attempted to depose him on three occasions, but he repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding his relationship with Cooper. His obstruction led to a contempt ruling and a $20,000 fine from U.S. magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid, who noted his previous combative behavior and evasiveness during a videotaped deposition in April. Peterson’s appeal of his conviction and sentence was recently denied by California’s Second Appellate district.
Cooper’s alleged ties to Peterson were also highlighted in Megan’s petition for a restraining order against him, filed last December. At a January hearing,Megan testified under oath about the ongoing harassment she faced from both Peterson and those he allegedly paid to target her. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Richard Bloom subsequently granted Megan a five-year restraining order against Peterson,citing “several uncontroverted facts,” including the shooting incident. The order mandates that Peterson stay at least 100 yards away from Megan and refrain from any form of harassment or intimidation until January 9, 2030.
