Explicit Deepfake Sharing Vlogger Ordered To Pay Megan Thee Stallion $75K - bet.com

A federal judge has ordered vlogger Milagro Gramz, also known as Milagro Elizabeth Cooper, to pay $75,000 in damages to rapper Megan Thee Stallion following a defamation lawsuit. Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga denied the defendant's request to delay the payment while her appeal is pending, citing a lack of evidence regarding the vlogger's financial hardship.

What happened

The judgment stems from actions taken by Gramz, who was found liable for teaming up with Tory Lanez to defame and inflict emotional distress upon the Grammy-winning artist. Central to the case was Gramz's role in encouraging her followers to view a sexually explicit deepfake video of Megan Thee Stallion. Legal representatives for the rapper argued that Gramz showed no hesitation when she broadcast claims that the artist was a liar, directed her audience to the deepfake pornographic content, and made threats of physical violence.

Gramz sought to stay the enforcement of the $75,000 judgment, claiming that her self-employed income fluctuates and that she lacked the liquid assets to pay in full. She further argued that her ongoing appeal raised significant legal questions that could result in a reversal of the jury's verdict. However, Judge Altonaga rejected these arguments, noting that the court lacked a reliable basis to assess the defendant's finances and that Gramz failed to demonstrate a high likelihood of success on appeal. The court concluded that the defendant offered only generalized disagreements with the initial verdict and post-trial rulings, providing no sufficient grounds to justify delaying the court-ordered compensation.