Megan Thee Stallion is facing a jury trial after a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit brought by her former cameraman, Emilio Garcia, can proceed over allegations including an allegedly hostile work environment, unpaid wages and labour-law violations.
The ruling, issued on 7 August in a New York federal court, partially denied Megan's request for summary judgment, allowing Garcia's remaining claims against the rapper and Roc Nation to move forward. The decision marks a significant development in a legal battle that began in April 2024, when Garcia sued over his employment between 2018 and 2023.
Garcia alleges that his time working for Megan involved sexual harassment, fat-shaming and unfair treatment, while claiming he was not properly paid. Crucially, the allegations have not been proven, and Megan's legal team has strongly rejected his claims.
Emilio Garcia V. Megan Thee Stallion Update. The Court has scheduled a telephonic status conference for September 10, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. The parties engaged in a settlement discussion on August 13, 2025, during which Emilio agreed to provide Megan's Legal Team with a written… pic.twitter.com/BxC7lonBMs
— Document Tingz (@DocumentTingz) September 6, 2025
Cameraman's Hostile Workplace Allegations
Garcia worked as a cameraman with Megan's entourage for five years, travelling with the rapper and working on her professional projects. In his lawsuit, he alleged that Megan created an 'unbearable hostile work environment' and subjected him to conduct he considered humiliating and inappropriate. He also accused her of fat-shaming him and alleged violations of California labour laws.
One of the most sensational allegations concerns an incident in Ibiza, Spain, in 2022, when Garcia claimed he was forced to remain in a vehicle while Megan had sex with another woman. The allegation was previously reported when the lawsuit was filed and became one of the most widely publicised aspects of the dispute. Megan's lawyers have disputed Garcia's account.
Garcia's case, however, is broader than that single allegation. His remaining claims include alleged failure to pay wages, violations of state human rights laws, numerous California labour-code violations and unfair business practices.
His attorney, Ron Zambrano, said Garcia is 'looking forward to having his day in court' and indicated that his team expects to present evidence, including testimony from Megan and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez.
The judge's ruling also narrowed the case. Garcia's retaliation claims under New York City and New York State human rights laws were dismissed because the court found he had not engaged in protected activity. His claims under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act were also dismissed.
Megan Denies Allegations as Case Heads to Jury
Megan has firmly denied Garcia's accusations, with her attorneys Mari Henderson and Alex Spiro describing his complaint as largely based on 'falsehoods, misrepresentations of fact, and outlandish claims that have no basis in fact or law and no merit'.
Her lawyers also accused Garcia of attempting to use the lawsuit to promote his own singing career. They argued that he had turned what they characterised as an ordinary wage and labour dispute into sensational allegations designed to generate publicity.
The latest ruling does not establish that Megan created a hostile work environment or committed the alleged labour violations. Instead, it means the surviving claims have cleared the summary-judgment stage and can proceed to trial.
For Megan, the case now moves into a potentially high-profile courtroom showdown. Garcia's legal team will have the opportunity to present evidence supporting his allegations, while Megan and Roc Nation will be able to challenge those claims before a jury.
The eventual verdict will determine whether Garcia can prove the remaining allegations, making the forthcoming trial the next major chapter in the contentious dispute.
