Megan Thee Stallion is being sued by a personal videographer who alleges that the “Hot Girl Summer” singer, her management company and several other related entities engaged in hostile work environment harassment and various labor law violations.
The lawsuit alleges that MTS, whose legal name is Megan Pete, had sexual relations with a woman who was traveling in a van in Europe with two other passengers and her and cameraman Emilio Garcia. The lawsuit also alleges that the singer embarrassed the cameraman, saying things like “You don't need to be eating” and “Spit out your food.”
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Additional plaintiffs include management company Roc Nation, Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment Inc., Hot Girl Touring LLC and 10 unidentified individuals.
In addition to harassment and a hostile work environment, the legal filing alleged other labor law violations that included failing to provide meal and rest periods as required by law, requiring unpaid overtime and waiting time, providing incorrect wage statements, failure to prevent or remedy harassment and retaliation.
“This is an employment claim for money, with no sexual harassment claim filed and with lewd accusations to try to embarrass her,” Alex Spiro, Pete's attorney, said Tuesday through his publicist. “We will deal with this in court.”
Roc Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
García alleges that his dismissal in September 2023 was retaliation for his continued complaints about labor violations and salary issues.
When Pete allegedly had sex in the van, the lawsuit says, Garcia felt “embarrassed, mortified and offended throughout the entire ordeal.” “I couldn't get out of the car because they were both moving and I was in the middle of nowhere” in Ibiza, Spain, he says.
The next day, the lawsuit alleges, Pete asked Garcia if he was in the truck the night before and then told him, “Never talk about what you saw.”
The lawsuit alleges that Garcia was misclassified as an independent contractor in late 2019, when he began working for Pete full-time as a personal videographer and she directed or controlled his work environment and the work he performed.
Garcia regularly worked more than 50 hours a week, initially for a flat rate, the suit says, and Pete communicated with him “at all hours” about work. Then, in August 2022, Roc Nation changed its salary structure to a fee-for-service setup in which, according to the lawsuit, Garcia still worked around the clock performing various tasks, but was paid “significantly less, as the amounts billed “They were not accurately reflected.” they reflect the true time and effort” required to work for the artist.
“Megan just needs to pay our client his due, acknowledge his behavior and stop this type of sexual harassment and fat-shaming behavior,” plaintiff attorney Ron Zambrano, a partner at West Coast Employment Lawyers, said in a statement Tuesday. . “Emilio should never have been in the situation of having to be in the vehicle with her while she had sexual relations with another woman. “Inappropriate” is putting it lightly. Exposing this behavior to employees is definitely illegal.”
Garcia seeks unpaid wages, statutory labor penalties, interest, punitive damages and legal fees.
