Megan Thee Stallion has denied sexual harassment allegations against her and branded them a “salacious” money-grab.
The 29-year-old “Savage” rapper is facing a litany of accusations from her former personal videographer Emilio Garcia, who claims in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles that emerged this week that she created a hostile working environment, subjected him to abuse and wage losses – and forced him to watch her have sexual relations with a woman while they rode in a SUV during a stop-off on her tour in Ibiza, Spain, in June 2022.
The musician’s lawyer Alex Shapiro has now said in a statement to Page Six: “This is an employment claim for money – with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her.
“We will deal with this in court.”
Garcia, who started working with the artist in 2018, alleged in his claim that she warned him at the time she allegedly forced him to watch her have lesbian sex: “Don’t ever discuss what you saw.”
He also told NBC News about the apparent incident: “I felt uncomfortable. I was kind of frozen, and I was shocked.
“At kind of just the overall audacity to do this right, right beside me.”
Garcia also said that the “Body” hitmaker, whose real name is Megan Pete, used to hurl abuse at him including calling him fat and barked orders at him such as: “Spit your food out” and “You don’t need to be eating.”
He added to NBC: “To hear someone who advocates about loving your body tell me these things, I felt degraded.”
The videographer is also accusing Pete of changing his pay from $4,000 (about R76 830) a month to a “pay-per-task” arrangement that resulted in his take-home wage being “significantly less” than they first agreed.
He said that he suffered earnings losses running into six figures in back pay as well as a loss in employment benefits.
The cameraman also stated he suffered injuries, sickness and emotional distress, leading to him tackling up medical bills.
His complaint said: “(Emilio) endured a barrage of relentless sexual and fat-shaming comments plunging him into profound emotional distress.”
The personal videographer is now said to be fighting “mounting anxiety, depression and physical distress” stemming from the “toxic work environment” with the singer.
Garcia was let go by record label Roc Nation in June 2023, which his attorneys says was in “direct retaliation for his complaints about the ongoing illegal behaviour and failure to pay him properly” from the musician.
Lawyer Ron Zambrano – who is also recreating the harassment accusers who have levelled claims against 35-year-old singer Lizzo – said about the case: “Megan just needs to pay our client what he’s due, own up to her behaviour and quit this sort of sexual harassment and fat shaming conduct.
“Emilio should never have been put in a position of having to be in the vehicle with her while she had sex with another woman.”
“‘Inappropriate’ is putting it lightly. Exposing this behaviour to employees is definitely illegal.”
Emilio is also suing Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment, Inc., Hot Girl Touring, LLC and Roc Nation for harassment and other alleged labour violations.