Tory Lanez Fined $20K for Contempt in Megan Thee Stallion Defamation Case

Tory Lanez was found in contempt of court in Miami on Monday and sanctioned $20,000 after refusing to answer deposition questions in Megan Thee Stallion’s defamation case against online commentator Milagro Cooper.

Tory Lanez hasn’t said a public word in nearly a year, but his silence inside a Miami federal courthouse thundered louder than any defense he could have mounted.
The rapper — already serving a decade-long sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020 — was held in contempt of court this week and hit with a $20,000 sanction after refusing to answer basic, court-ordered questions in the defamation case Megan filed against online personality Milagro Cooper.

The moment snapped the courtroom into focus. According to federal filings and testimony reviewed by the court, Lanez repeatedly declined to engage during a deposition about his relationship and communications with Cooper — even after a judge ordered him to continue the questioning under supervision. His refusal prompted U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid to impose the monetary penalty and instruct jurors that they may draw an adverse inference from his silence, a legal way of telling them that Lanez may be hiding information that could damage the defense.

For Megan’s team, the sanctions confirmed what they’ve argued from day one: that the digital smear campaign she accuses Cooper of orchestrating wasn’t random internet chaos but a coordinated effort designed to undermine her credibility before, during, and after Lanez’s criminal trial. In a recent filing, they wrote, “Despite being sentenced to ten years for shooting Ms. Pete, Mr. Peterson continues to subject her to repeated trauma and revictimization.”

Cooper — who hosts a Stationhead show and has built a sizable following by covering rap culture with a street-level, provocative style — is defending herself against allegations of defamation, cyberstalking, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the willful promotion of an altered sexual depiction under a 2024 Florida law. Judge Cecilia Altonaga previously ruled she does not qualify as a media defendant, clearing the path for a standard defamation action without special notice protections.

The case’s paper trail has grown more tangled as trial week begins. Cooper was sanctioned earlier this fall for deleting thousands of messages — including texts with Lanez and Lanez’s father — after being ordered to preserve all communications. Those deletions now allow jurors to presume the missing evidence would have been damaging to her defense.

Lanez’s own role has only complicated matters further. Video excerpts of his earlier deposition will be shown to the jury, and his refusal to answer foundational questions this month turned what should have been routine testimony into a dramatic new legal blow. Legal observers say the sanction is significant: contempt fines in federal civil cases tied to disobedience of deposition orders are not common, and the adverse inference instruction could heavily tilt the jury’s view of the harassment allegations.

For hip-hop fans, the case represents more than a clash between an artist and an online commentator. It marks a turning point in how courts treat digital influence, viral narratives, and weaponized commentary — especially when it intersects with violence against women. It also cements the aftermath of Lanez’s criminal conviction as an ongoing story, one still echoing through the same culture he once dominated.

With trial testimony now underway in Miami, both Megan and Cooper are expected to take the stand in the days ahead. And Lanez — silent, sanctioned, and sitting in a California prison — now faces the reality that his refusal to speak may end up speaking loudest of all.

Cardi B Announces Birth of Her Baby and a New Chapter Focused on Reinvention

Photo Credit: Warner Music

Cardi B didn’t just introduce her new baby to the world Tuesday afternoon — she declared a shift in her entire life.

In a deeply personal Instagram post, the Bronx superstar confirmed the arrival of her fourth child and her first with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, framing motherhood and reinvention as the driving force behind her next era.

“My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons,” she wrote. “I brought new music and a new album to the world. A new baby into my world — and one more reason to be the best version of me.”

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The announcement closed weeks of speculation surrounding the due date, following both Diggs’ confirmation that the baby was a boy (she did not reveal the name) and Cardi’s own "CBS Mornings" interview in September revealing she was pregnant again. It also follows her recent rollout for her “Little Miss Drama” tour, which she said she was preparing for “while creating a baby.”

In Tuesday’s post, Cardi framed the moment not as a soft reset but a full transformation. “This next chapter is Me vs. Me,” she wrote, describing a season of healing, discipline, and purpose. “It’s me against all odds… getting my body right, getting my mind right. There’s nothing that’s gonna stop me from giving you guys the performance of a lifetime.”

Sources close to the couple — and Diggs’ own comments to People — have consistently described this pregnancy as grounding for both artists. Diggs told the outlet he was “100% team boy” prior to the birth and said he was ready for fatherhood “real soon.”

Cardi’s post arrives at a pivotal moment for her career. She released her long-awaited sophomore album this fall, marking her first full project since “Invasion of Privacy,” and opened the door for a new sonic era steeped in vulnerability, sharpened confidence, and hard-earned growth.

Cardi closed her message with a simple declaration that reads as much like a thesis for her next era as it does a promise to herself: “I’ve learned, I’ve healed, and I’m loving the woman I’ve become.”

Akon Detained in Georgia on Bench Warrant Linked to Suspended License Case

Akon, 52, is seen in a booking photo taken Friday after Chamblee police arrested him on a bench warrant tied to a suspended-license case out of Roswell, Georgia. He was released from the DeKalb County Jail later the same day. (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

Akon was briefly taken into custody in Georgia on Friday after police flagged a vehicle registered in his name and discovered he had an outstanding bench warrant tied to a prior suspended-license citation.

According to the Chamblee Police Department, an officer was dispatched just after 11 a.m. to Tint World, an automotive styling shop along Chamblee Dunwoody Road, after license-plate cameras alerted authorities that a wanted vehicle — a white Tesla Cybertruck — had entered the area. When the officer arrived, they located the truck and saw a man standing outside who matched the registered owner’s description.

Police say the man identified himself as Akon, whose legal name is Aliaune Badara Thiam. After confirming the active warrant, officers informed him he was being detained. According to the incident report, Akon complied, remained calm and told officers he was already aware of the warrant. No weapons or contraband were found during a search.

He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail, booked early Friday afternoon and released later the same day.

The bench warrant stems from a Sept. 10 incident in Roswell, when police found Akon’s Cybertruck stranded after its battery died. Officers contacted the singer, ran his information and determined his driver’s license was suspended for failure to appear. The truck was impounded, and Akon was issued a citation.

Police records show he was later arrested on the related bench warrant in November, after being transferred from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to Smyrna authorities, before being released again.

It remains unclear when he is due back in court or whether the Cybertruck has since been retrieved from impound. Police have not indicated whether further charges may be forthcoming.

Akon, 52, has not publicly commented on the incident.