Former cameraman Emilio Garcia has brought forth explosive allegations against rapper Megan Thee Stallion, accusing her of subjecting him to a disturbing ordeal during his time working with her. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Garcia detailed a harrowing experience where he claims the Grammy Award-winning artist forced him to witness her engaging in sexual activity in a vehicle.
Garcia, who began his role as Megan Pete's personal cameraman in 2018, alleges that what initially seemed like a dream job soon turned into a nightmare. According to the lawsuit, he was paid approximately $4,000 per month by Pete's label Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z. However, things took a drastic turn during a trip to Ibiza, Spain, in June 2022.
The lawsuit asserts that after a night out, Garcia found himself trapped in an SUV with Pete and three others, where the rapper and another woman proceeded to have sex beside him. Garcia claims he felt embarrassed, mortified, and offended throughout the ordeal, unable to escape the moving vehicle.
The following day, Pete allegedly confronted Garcia about the incident, warning him not to discuss what he had witnessed. From then on, Garcia alleges that Pete subjected him to verbal abuse, including fat-shaming slurs and derogatory remarks about his appearance and eating habits.
Furthermore, Garcia claims that Pete retaliated by reducing his pay, increasing his workload, and limiting his bookings. Despite enduring these conditions, Garcia remained open to working with her until June 2023, when Roc Nation informed him that his services were no longer required.
Now, nearly a year later, Garcia is seeking justice, demanding compensation for unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, and legal fees, totaling more than six figures. His lawyer, Ron Zambrano, emphasized the severity of the situation, calling for Pete to take accountability for her actions and cease such behavior.
The U.S. Sun reached out to Pete's management company, Roc Nation, for comment on the allegations.
Attorney Alex Spiro, representing Megan Thee Stallion, dismissed Emilio Garcia's lawsuit as solely motivated by financial gain, emphasizing that no sexual harassment claim had been filed. "This is an employment claim for money — with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her," Spiro asserted to the Associated Press.
In response, Garcia's lawyer, Ron Zambrano, clarified that their intention wasn't to shame Pete but to hold her accountable for her actions. "Unfortunately, it is not a surprise that the defendant, through her attorney, is denying the allegations," Zambrano stated. "It is an utter lie that we have not alleged a hostile work environment based on the sex claim. It is literally the first claim listed in the lawsuit.
Zambrano highlighted the importance of accountability regardless of celebrity status, refuting any notion that Garcia's claims were exaggerated or intended to shame Pete. "None of this is intended to embarrass her but merely an attempt to hold her accountable for her illegal actions just as anyone else should be, celebrity or not," he emphasized.
Addressing the double standard in societal perceptions, Zambrano pointed out the hypocrisy in expecting Garcia to tolerate behavior that would rightfully be deemed unacceptable if the roles were reversed. "The reaction that my client should not have been offended or somehow thankful for being in a car while she had sex with another woman is an absolute double standard," he asserted.
Moreover, Zambrano stressed the need for equitable treatment of employees, especially those in the entertainment industry, challenging the notion that they should endure harassment and mistreatment for the sake of proximity to fame. "Employees who work for celebrities should be afforded the same sort of workplace free of harassment that any other worker in any other industry is legally obligated to have," he stated firmly.
Concluding, Zambrano warned against perpetuating a culture of exploitation and underpayment within the entertainment industry, urging for accountability and fairness. "We have to stop expecting that those who work for stars should just deal with this egregious and illegal behavior and suck it up and be thankful for their access," he emphasized. "That is a recipe for the abuse in treatment and underpayment, not only in this lawsuit but in many other stories that are yet to be told.
In conclusion, the ongoing legal battle between Emilio Garcia and Megan Thee Stallion highlights broader issues of accountability and workplace standards within the entertainment industry. While Megan Thee Stallion's attorney dismisses Garcia's claims as mere attempts at financial gain, Garcia's lawyer asserts that their intention is to hold the rapper accountable for alleged illegal actions, emphasizing the importance of equitable treatment for all employees, regardless of celebrity status. This case serves as a poignant reminder of the need to address systemic issues of harassment and exploitation in the entertainment world, and the outcome may set a precedent for how such matters are handled in the future.
