LOS ANGELES, USA — Emilio Garcia, a former personal cameraman for hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion, has filed a lawsuit accusing the star of creating a hostile work environment that included sexual and fat-shaming harassment.
The suit was lodged in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
According to the lawsuit, Garcia alleges that during a trip to Ibiza, Spain, in June 2022, he was subjected to an uncomfortable situation where Megan Thee Stallion, real name Megan Pete, and another woman engaged in sexual acts next to him in a moving vehicle.
Garcia expressed his shock and discomfort to NBC News, stating, “I felt uncomfortable. I was kind of frozen, and I was shocked at the overall audacity to do this right beside me.”
The lawsuit details further alleged abuses, including derogatory comments about Garcia’s weight.
“To hear someone who advocates about loving your body tell me these things, I felt degraded,” Garcia recounted.
Upon their return from Ibiza, the suit claims Megan altered Garcia’s payment structure from a flat monthly rate to a task-based system, further straining their professional relationship.
The changes coincided with a noticeable reduction in the number of bookings for Garcia, culminating in his dismissal in June 2023.
Garcia’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, criticized Megan’s conduct, stating, “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.”
In response to the allegations, Megan’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, remarked, “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.”
The lawsuit also highlights the lack of standard employment protections typically available in non-entertainment industries, such as overtime pay and breaks, attributing this to Garcia’s misclassification as an independent contractor.
This misclassification allegedly left him without basic insurance coverage, exacerbating his health issues amid an increasingly toxic work environment.
Garcia is seeking damages in excess of six figures, covering unpaid wages, interest, statutory and wage penalties, and other related costs.
