LOS ANGELES – Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion is facing explosive allegations from a former employee, who claims he was subjected to a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and wage violations during his tenure as her personal cameraman.
Emilio Garcia, who worked for the “Savage” hitmaker from 2018 to 2023, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, detailing disturbing incidents that allegedly occurred while on the job with the hip-hop star.
The most startling claim in the lawsuit revolves around an incident that allegedly took place in June 2022 during a trip to Ibiza, Spain. According to Garcia, he was trapped inside a moving vehicle with Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, while she engaged in a sexual act with another woman.
“I felt uncomfortable. I was kind of frozen, and I was shocked. At kind of just be the overall audacity to do this right, right beside me,” Garcia told NBC News in an interview.
The following day, the lawsuit states, Megan Thee Stallion confronted Garcia about the incident and warned him, “Don’t ever discuss what you saw.”
Garcia alleges that the harassment escalated from there, with the rapper repeatedly subjecting him to “fat-shaming” insults and berating him about his weight during the same trip.
“To hear someone who advocates about loving your body tell me these things,” Garcia said, “I felt degraded.”
Upon returning from the Ibiza trip, Garcia claims his compensation structure was changed from a monthly flat rate to a pay-per-task system, effectively reducing his earnings. He also alleges that he saw a decrease in bookings from Megan Thee Stallion following the incident, despite being expected to provide the same services.
The alleged mistreatment ultimately led Garcia to consider quitting his job due to the “possessiveness combined with a lack of appropriate pay for the amount of time asked of him” and the lack of bookings, according to the lawsuit.
In June 2023, just days before a scheduled job with Megan Thee Stallion, Garcia was abruptly informed by her label, Roc Nation, that “his services would no longer be required,” the lawsuit states.
Garcia’s lawsuit paints a picture of a toxic work environment, alleging that he “endured a barrage of relentless sexual and fat-shaming comments plunging him into profound emotional distress.”
“What I learned throughout the years is that, especially coming from an office environment, as you know, there’s no HR department in the entertainment business,” Garcia told NBC News. “So if you don’t know that you’re being done wrong, you don’t really know how to advocate for yourself until you start asking, maybe you start asking your peers who have representation, they have agents, they have management, they have attorneys. So I just really just want to encourage people to advocate for themselves.”
The alleged behavior caused Garcia to suffer a loss in earnings and other employment benefits, as well as physical injuries, physical sickness, and emotional distress, according to the lawsuit.
Ron Zambrano, an attorney representing Garcia, issued a scathing statement, saying, “Megan just needs to pay our client what he’s due, own up to her behavior and quit this sort of sexual harassment and fat shaming conduct. Emilio should never have been put in a position of having to be in the vehicle with her while she had sex with another woman. ‘Inappropriate’ is putting it lightly. Exposing this behavior to employees is definitely illegal.”
In addition to the allegations of harassment and a hostile work environment, Garcia’s lawsuit also outlines alleged employment and wage violations centering on his classification as an independent contractor.
The lawsuit claims that Megan Thee Stallion prohibited Garcia from working for anyone else and denied him overtime pay and breaks. Furthermore, his misclassification as an independent contractor “left him without basic insurance coverage, depriving him of essential health care,” according to the suit.
Garcia told NBC News that he is seeking more than six figures in damages, including unpaid wages, interest on unpaid wages, unpaid overtime wages, and other employee benefits. He is also seeking statutory penalties, wage penalties pursuant to California labor laws, punitive damages, and costs incurred, including attorneys’ fees.
Megan Thee Stallion’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has vehemently denied the allegations, stating, “This is an employment claim for money — with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her. We will deal with this in court.”
Representatives for Roc Nation, Megan Thee Stallion’s label, did not respond to requests for comment.
The lawsuit has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, casting a shadow over the 28-year-old rapper’s meteoric rise to fame and success. Megan Thee Stallion, known for her bold and empowering persona, has become a cultural icon and a leading voice in the ongoing conversation about body positivity and female empowerment.
However, the allegations leveled by Garcia paint a stark contrast to the image Megan Thee Stallion has cultivated. If proven true, the claims could have far-reaching consequences for her career and public perception.
As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes will be on the courtroom, where Megan Thee Stallion will be forced to confront the explosive accusations and defend herself against the damaging claims made by her former employee.
The lawsuit not only raises questions about the rapper’s conduct but also shines a light on the often-murky world of employment practices in the entertainment industry. Garcia’s case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by those working in non-traditional roles, where the lack of established human resources protocols and protections can leave employees vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment.
As the case proceeds, it will undoubtedly reignite discussions about accountability, workplace safety, and the need for greater oversight and regulation within the entertainment sector.
For now, Megan Thee Stallion finds herself at the center of a legal firestorm, with her reputation and future success hanging in the balance. As the details of the lawsuit continue to unfold, the public will be watching closely, seeking answers and seeking to understand the truth behind the shocking allegations leveled against one of the music industry’s most prominent and influential voices.
