A federal judge has ruled that key parts of a workplace harassment lawsuit against Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion can proceed. Judge Gregory H. Woods determined on July 7, 2025, that former cameraman Emilio Garcia provided “sufficient facts” to continue his case against both Megan and her management company, Roc Nation.
The lawsuit, originally filed in April 2024, contains serious allegations about workplace conduct during Garcia’s employment with Megan from 2018 to 2023. Garcia claims he experienced a hostile work environment, including an incident in Ibiza, Spain, where he was allegedly trapped in a moving vehicle while Megan engaged in sexual activity with another woman.
“Plaintiff could not get out of the car as it was both moving and he was in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country,” states the lawsuit. Garcia, who is gay, alleges that the following day, Megan asked if he was in the vehicle and then instructed him, “Don’t ever discuss what you saw.”
Judge Woods specifically noted that Garcia “plausibly pleads that the alleged sexual encounter in the SUV in Ibiza created a hostile work environment based on plaintiff’s sexual orientation.”
The lawsuit also includes accusations of fat-shaming, with Garcia claiming Megan made derogatory comments about his body. Additional allegations involve a separate incident where Megan allegedly threw a TV remote at Garcia’s head in August 2022.
Employment issues form another major component of the case. Garcia alleges his payment structure was changed after the Ibiza incident, shifting from a monthly flat rate of $4,000 to a pay-per-task system that “resulted in significantly less compensation.” The lawsuit claims Garcia was misclassified as an independent contractor rather than an employee, denying him benefits like health insurance, overtime pay, and regular breaks.
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Judge Woods refused to dismiss retaliation claims against Megan and Roc Nation, noting there was “reasonable inference” that the “material terms and conditions” of Garcia’s employment “were altered in retaliation for speaking up about the Ibiza incident.” However, he did dismiss some claims, including certain wage claims and additional hostile work environment allegations under California law.
Megan’s legal team has firmly denied all allegations. Her attorney, Alex Spiro, called the lawsuit “an employment claim for money with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her.” In May 2024, her team filed a response describing Garcia as a “con artist” whose allegations consisted “almost entirely of falsehoods” with “no basis in fact or law.”
The legal developments have drawn attention from others in the music industry. Notably, rapper Nicki Minaj, who has a well-documented feud with Megan, publicly celebrated the judge’s decision on social media. Minaj wrote, “What was the name of that law again? Karma’s Law?” This appears to reference Megan’s track “Hiss,” which contained lyrics interpreted as criticizing Minaj’s husband.
Garcia’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, maintains this case is about accountability. “Megan just needs to pay our client what he’s due, own up to her behavior and quit this sort of sexual harassment,” Zambrano stated.
Neither Megan Thee Stallion, Jay-Z, nor Roc Nation has issued public statements addressing the recent court ruling or Nicki Minaj’s comments. As the case moves forward, it highlights ongoing questions about workplace conduct standards in the entertainment industry, particularly regarding the treatment of behind-the-scenes professionals.
The next phase of the legal process will likely involve extensive evidence gathering through discovery, potentially including depositions and document exchanges, before potentially proceeding to trial or settlement discussions.
