Megan Thee Stallion Must Face Trial in Photographer Employment Case

A federal judge decided Megan Thee Stallion and Roc Nation must stand trial. The case centers on claims they wrongly labeled a personal photographer as an independent contractor. Judge Gregory Woods works at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He rejected their motion for summary judgment on Friday.

Emilio Garcia brought forward evidence that might convince a jury he was an employee, not an independent contractor, according to Bloomberg Law. Records show the defendants held substantial control over how Garcia did his job.

Garcia filed suit against Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment, Hot Girl Touring, and Roc Nation in 2024. He'd worked with the rapper for several years before that. His complaint says they underpaid him and created a hostile work environment. He also said they changed how he got paid in ways that slashed what he earned.

The most talked-about claim stems from a 2022 trip to Ibiza. Garcia says he was riding in a moving SUV with the rapper and several women. She began having an intimate encounter with one of them beside him. He couldn't leave the vehicle. Someone told him not to discuss what he saw.

Attorneys for the Houston native have pushed back against these claims. They called them "fabricated" and said the lawsuit is just an employment dispute being dressed up with sensational accusations.

The case survived an earlier attempt to limit it. In 2025, Woods let claims about an alleged hostile work environment and certain wage-and-hour issues proceed while tossing others. He found conflicting evidence on matters involving working conditions and pay. These disputes can't be settled at the summary judgment stage.

Ron Zambrano represents Garcia. He said his client is "looking forward to having his day in court," according to HotNewHipHop.

No trial date has been scheduled yet. Both sides are expected to submit estimates for how long the proceedings will take. Then Woods will put the case on the calendar.