Los Angeles – A former cameraman has filed a lawsuit against hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion, alleging harassment and a hostile work environment. Emilio Garcia claims that during a trip to Spain in June 2022, he was trapped in a moving vehicle with Megan and witnessed her engaging in sexual activity with another woman. Garcia stated that after the incident, he was warned not to discuss what he saw and was subjected to fat-shaming and mistreatment by Megan, making his working conditions intolerable.
An attorney for Megan Thee Stallion, Alex Spiro, stated that the lawsuit is primarily an employment claim for money, with no sexual harassment claim filed. However, Garcia’s lawsuit claims that the harassment he faced was severe enough to create a hostile work environment. Despite the allegations, representatives for Roc Nation, Megan’s management, did not provide any comments on the matter.
Garcia began working for Megan Thee Stallion in 2018 as a personal cameraman and eventually worked for her full time until June 2023. The lawsuit details instances of fat-shaming and disrespectful behavior from Megan towards Garcia, including making derogatory comments about his weight and eating habits during their time together in Ibiza, Spain.
Following the trip to Spain, Garcia alleges that his compensation structure was changed, and he began to experience a decrease in bookings from Megan. The lawsuit claims that Garcia ultimately faced a loss in earnings, employment benefits, physical injuries, and emotional distress as a result of the toxic work environment created by Megan.
Garcia’s lawsuit also outlines alleged employment and wage violations, including his misclassification as an independent contractor, which left him without essential health care coverage. Despite facing mounting anxiety, depression, and physical distress, Garcia is seeking more than six figures in unpaid wages, overtime pay, statutory penalties, and punitive damages in accordance with California labor laws.
The lawsuit highlights Garcia’s experience of being prevented from working for anyone else, denied overtime pay and breaks, and ultimately deprived of essential health care coverage due to his misclassification. Through his legal action, Garcia aims to hold Megan accountable for her alleged behavior, seek compensation for the damages he suffered, and raise awareness about advocating for fair treatment in the entertainment industry.