Tory Lanez’s legal troubles just won’t let up. The Canadian rapper, currently serving time for shooting Megan Thee Stallion, has officially been ordered to participate in a third deposition as part of Megan’s ongoing defamation lawsuit — despite his legal team’s efforts to avoid it.
According to court documents obtained from Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Judge Lisette Reid denied Lanez’s motion for a protective order, ruling that his request to skip the deposition was both late and unsupported by valid legal grounds.
Judge Denies Lanez’s Protective Order
In late September, Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson) filed a motion seeking exemption from the upcoming deposition, arguing that being forced to testify again would pose “undue hardship and prejudice” given his ongoing criminal appeal.
His legal filing stated:
“Mr. Peterson, an incarcerated non-party in Pete v. Cooper, No. 1:24-cv-24228 (S.D. Fla.), faces undue burden, prejudice to his ongoing criminal appeal, and constitutional risks if compelled to provide further deposition testimony.”
However, Judge Reid disagreed, ruling that Lanez’s appeal was filed too late to affect the deposition timeline. The judge emphasized that Lanez must comply with the civil proceedings — particularly since this deposition does not directly relate to his criminal conviction involving Megan.
Focus Shifts to Milagro Cooper Connection
Judge Reid clarified that this deposition will focus specifically on Lanez’s relationship with Milagro Cooper, known online as Milagro Gramz — a blogger and influencer accused of accepting payments from Lanez’s camp to spread negative information about Megan Thee Stallion during and after the 2020 shooting case.
The defamation lawsuit, filed by Megan (real name Megan Pete), accuses Cooper of launching a targeted smear campaign designed to damage her reputation while boosting Lanez’s public defense narrative.
Reports suggest that Lanez’s testimony could clarify whether he or his family financially supported Cooper’s media activity, which included a series of posts, livestreams, and YouTube commentaries undermining Megan’s credibility.
Judge Reid noted that because the questioning will center on Cooper — not Megan directly — Lanez’s participation poses no risk to his criminal appeal.
“The Fifth Amendment doesn’t allow a witness to skip a deposition entirely,” Reid said. “He can only refuse to answer specific questions that might incriminate him, with the court resolving those issues as they arise.”
Tory Lanez’s Conduct Under Scrutiny
This upcoming deposition will mark Lanez’s third round of questioning in connection with the defamation case. Reports from an April session claimed that Lanez acted disrespectfully toward Megan’s legal team, prompting the court to warn that further misconduct could result in fines or additional sanctions.
Legal analysts say this deposition could be crucial in shaping how the court evaluates the link between Lanez’s team and online smear efforts against Megan — a connection that could expose new layers of the fallout surrounding one of hip-hop’s most publicized court battles.
A Tangled Legal Web
Lanez, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence in California for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot during a 2020 altercation, is simultaneously pursuing a criminal appeal to overturn or reduce his conviction.
Meanwhile, Megan’s defamation lawsuit against Cooper has remained active for over a year, with her legal team pushing for accountability from those they allege “weaponized social media to distort the truth.”
Though Lanez isn’t a named defendant in the defamation case, his involvement as a witness and alleged funder of the smear campaign keeps him deeply entangled in its outcome.
The Bigger Picture
This latest development highlights how the ripple effects of the Megan Thee Stallion case continue to echo across the entertainment industry — from legal battles to public perception.
For Megan, the defamation case is not just about clearing her name but also about setting a precedent against digital harassment and misinformation in high-profile celebrity disputes.
For Tory Lanez, it’s another reminder that his legal challenges are far from over, even behind bars.
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