Jurors rule in favor of Megan Thee Stallion in Miami deepfake porn case, order Milagro Gramz to pay $75,000 in damages
Jurors in Megan Thee Stallion's defamation lawsuit against a Texas blogger for spreading a sexually explicit deepfake video have ruled in favor of the Grammy-winning rapper inside Miami federal court on Monday afternoon.
The nine-member jury found Texas blogger Milagro Cooper liable for defamation and has been ordered to pay Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, $75,000.
When asked about the outcome of the trial, Pete responded, "I'm just happy."
Cooper too seemed relieved over the verdict. She said, "I just want to thank all the jurors, everybody who participated and I'm happy is over."
Cooper's attorney spoke with CBS Miami, expressing that, "At the end of the day, it was not a complete win for any side. It's a trial and this is what happens in trial."
What led to the trial?
Pete accused Cooper of spreading harmful online posts and circulated an AI-generated pornographic video, violating a new Florida law that allows lawsuits over manipulated images.
Both women testified multiple times during the trial.
Closing arguments wrapped up on Nov. 26.
Pete claimed that Cooper, known online as Milagro Gramz, created a space for people to make negative comments and jokes about her 2020 shooting incident involving rapper Daystar Peterson, known as Tory Lanez. Lanez was convicted of shooting Pete in the foot and is serving a 10-year prison sentence.
Pete told jurors during the testimony that the ordeal left her feeling like "her life was not worth living." She said the deepfake video severely damaged her mental health and career, causing her to lose at least four music contracts worth about $1 million each.
Pete testified that she completed a four-week therapy program costing $240,000 while struggling with feelings of hopelessness.
How much will Megan Thee Stallion be compensated
Even though the jury awarded Pete $75,000 after finding Cooper liable, she may only receive about $59,000 due to the fact that the jurors considered Cooper a member of the media.
"Because the jurors found that Milagro Cooper was a media defendant, that means that the plaintiff in this case had to send Milagro Cooper a cease and desist letter before they sued her. Because they did not send her that letter, that defamation claim was dead in the water when it was filed," said Cooper's defense attorney Jeremy McLymont.
According to the verdict, at least $16,000 will be subtracted from that amount which includes punitive damages and money generated from the defamation lawsuit.