Judge Reinstates Megan Thee Stallion’s Defamation Judgment Against Blogger Milagro Gramz

On Friday, Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga reinstated a jury verdict that holds blogger Milagro Gramz—real name Milagro Cooper—liable for defamation, intentional emotional distress, and promotion of a deepfake video. The court ruled Cooper acted on behalf of rapper Tory Lanez (Daystar Peterson) and his father Sonstar Peterson, making her ineligible for pre-suit notice. Cooper now owes the full $75,000 judgment.

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Megan Pete filed the suit in October 2024, alleging Cooper served as a “longtime mouthpiece” for the Peterson family, spreading false claims that Pete perjured herself during Lanez’s 2020 shooting trial. A Miami jury found Cooper liable for defamation, emotional distress, and for amplifying a sexually explicit deepfake video. The award was later set aside because Cooper, classified as a media defendant, had not received advance notice.

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The judgment awards $15,000 for defamation, $8,000 for emotional distress, and $50,000 for promoting the altered video, totaling $75,000. Cooper posted three false statements, received payments from Sonstar Peterson, and liked the deepfake on her @MobzWorld X account on June 8 2024, exposing it to over 100,000 followers.

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The ruling clarifies that individuals who disseminate false statements for third parties may be treated as non-media actors, limiting the pre-suit notice defense. It also signals judicial willingness to address deepfake distribution and the emotional-distress harms it can cause, potentially shaping future civil actions involving deepfake content.

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Megan Thee Stallion issued a statement calling the decision a validation of truth and a deterrent to defamatory conduct. Judge Altonaga’s opinion highlighted Cooper’s “ongoing arrangement” with the Petersons as the basis for denying media-defendant status. Cooper, representing herself, has not replied to comment requests.

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The Rolling Stone introduction reports a $16,000 defamation award, while the conclusion cites a $15,000 component within the $75,000 total, reflecting a discrepancy in the reported amount.

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• “Today’s ruling is a reminder that the truth matters and ultimately prevails,” — Megan Thee Stallion, statement

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• “I know it’s not me, but to be in front of everybody else, and they have to watch it — it’s really embarrassing,” — Megan Thee Stallion, testimony

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• “The court does not find that defendant could never be considered a media defendant and only reaches defendant’s role in publishing the three statements the jury determined were defamatory.” — Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, ruling

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• “Because the trial record shows that defendant was commissioned by the Petersons to publish or broadcast the three defamatory statements, the court finds as a matter of law that defendant was not entitled to pre-suit notice,” — Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, ruling

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