Megan Thee Stallion Wins Landmark Defamation Case Against Blogger Over Online Harassment
A Miami federal jury delivered a decisive victory to Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion on Monday, finding blogger Milagro “Milagro Gramz” Cooper liable for years of defamation and harassment stemming from online attacks connected to the 2020 shooting involving Tory Lanez. The verdict concludes a closely watched civil trial focused on allegations that Cooper amplified false claims, collaborated with Lanez, and disseminated a sexually explicit deepfake video of the artist, whose legal name is Megan Pete.
After two days of deliberation, the nine-person jury determined that Cooper intentionally inflicted emotional distress, defamed Pete, and knowingly encouraged her social media followers to view the manipulated video. Jurors initially awarded $75,000 in damages, but U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga subsequently reduced the amount to $59,000 to comply with Florida law, as reported by NBCNews. The ruling also paves the way for Pete to potentially recover substantial legal fees, estimated to exceed $1 million based on court filings.
Pete, who testified that the prolonged harassment significantly impacted her mental health, declined to address reporters upon leaving the courthouse. In a brief video captured by a court reporter, she simply expressed being “happy” with the outcome. Cooper, in a statement to local media, acknowledged her disappointment but affirmed her respect for the jury’s decision.
The lawsuit alleged that Cooper functioned as an online proxy for Lanez—born Daystar Peterson—who was convicted in 2022 of shooting Pete in both feet following an altercation at a party hosted by Kylie Jenner in July 2020. Trial evidence revealed that Cooper received financial support from Lanez’s father and directed her followers to the deepfake video depicting Pete in sexually explicit scenarios. Despite Cooper’s denials of coordination with Lanez, the jury rejected her assertion that her online commentary constituted protected First Amendment reporting.
Lanez, currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in California, repeatedly refused to participate in depositions for the civil case and was penalized for obstructing pretrial discovery. His connection to Cooper was a recurring theme throughout the testimony, including a separate restraining order proceeding earlier this year where Pete detailed ongoing harassment from Lanez’s supporters.
The jury’s finding that Cooper should be considered a “media defendant,” coupled with their conclusion that she lacked neutrality, could significantly influence post-trial motions. For now, the ruling represents a crucial recognition of the escalating harms associated with digital harassment, deepfakes, and coordinated online abuse, particularly targeting Black women in the public sphere.
