A former cameraman for Megan Thee Stallion filed a lawsuit against the rapper and her companies Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) reported.
Emilio Garcia filed a lawsuit against the rapper and her companies alleging harassment and violations of labor laws during his employment, according to THR. The lawsuit names Megan Pete, the rapper’s real name, and her companies, Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment, Inc., Hot Girl Touring, LLC, and Roc Nation as defendants.
Megan Thee Stallion Sued by Cameraman Over Sexual Harassment Claim https://t.co/kOxd1Z4RW8
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 24, 2024
Garcia claims he faced several inappropriate incidents while working for the rapper from 2018 to 2023. He cited a June 2022 event during a tour in Spain, where he says he was trapped in a moving car while Stallion had sex. The incident left him feeling “embarrassed, mortified, and offended,” the outlet reported.
Following this event, Stallion reportedly confirmed Garcia’s presence in the car and instructed him never to discuss what he saw. Additionally, Garcia accuses the rapper of verbally abusing him for his weight and eating habits, using derogatory terms and telling him to spit out his food, THR stated. (RELATED: Megan Thee Stallion Halts Career To Heal From Traumatic Shooting Incident)
The lawsuit also details issues with compensation and alleges that Garcia was misclassified as an independent contractor. This has allegedly deprived him of rightful healthcare and overtime benefits. He also claims he was often denied necessary breaks. Changes to his payment structure by Roc Nation in August 2022 further reduced his earnings, as he was shifted from a monthly salary to a pay-per-task arrangement, the outlet reported.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 08: Megan Thee Stallion attends the Global Premiere of “Mean Girls” at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on January 08, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Garcia claims the changes did not fairly compensate for his time and efforts. He also alleges that Stallion demanded he not work for anyone else and required him to be on constant standby. He was eventually terminated in 2023, which he claims was retaliatory.
“Plaintiff grapples with mounting anxiety, depression, and physical distress stemming from the toxic work environment, compounded by the trauma of unpaid work,” the lawsuit stated, THR reported.
Stallion’s attorney, Alex Spiro, responded to the lawsuit. “This is an employment claim for money — with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her,” Spiro, told THR. “We will deal with this in court.”