A federal judge reinstated Megan Thee Stallion's motion against blogger Milagro Cooper, adding to the rapper's string of legal victories.
The latest ruling says that even though the jury previously found that the blogger qualified as a media defendant, she wasn’t entitled to Florida’s media-protection pre-suit notice requirement for the defamatory statements.
“Today’s ruling is a reminder that the truth matters and ultimately prevails. I’m truly grateful for the judge’s thoughtful and thorough consideration in reinstating the jury’s defamation verdict and holding the defendant fully accountable for all of her actions,” said Megan in a statement. “I’m ready to finally close this chapter and I hope this sends a powerful message that spreading lies and defamatory statements has clear consequences.”
This ruiling builds on last December’s verdict out of Miami, where a nine-person federal jury found that Cooper defamed and harassed Megan. Jurors initially set damages at $75,000, though U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga trimmed that figure to $59,000 in a final ruling filed the following day.
The case stemmed from content Cooper published in the wake of Tory Lanez shooting Megan roughly five years before the verdict. Beyond compensatory damages, the jury also held Cooper liable for punitive damages. Under a Florida fee-shifting provision, Cooper is additionally on the hook for Megan's legal costs tied to the deepfake claim.
Megan's attorney, Mari Henderson, addressed the outcome directly in December. "Not only is Milagro being held accountable for paying Megan compensatory and punitive damages, but Florida's fee-shifting legal provision will require her to cover costs of Megan's legal bills on the deepfake claim. This verdict sends a clear message that spreading dangerous misinformation carries significant consequences."
Henderson also offered a broader take on the jury's role: "We're thankful for the jury's commitment to reinforcing the importance of truth, accountability and responsible commentary on social media."
With the latest motion now granted, according to NBC News, Cooper faces both the financial penalties from the original verdict and the additional burden of covering the rapper's legal fees on the deepfake portion of the case.
