Rapper TI and wife Tiny awarded eight figures in OMG Girlz lawsuit

Rapper TI and his wife, singer-songwriter Tameka “Tiny” Harris, have secured a significant legal victory, with a jury awarding them $71 million (£51 million) in their lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, a toy company they accused of infringing on their intellectual property rights.

On September 23, Tiny celebrated the decision during an Instagram Live session, expressing her relief and joy at the conclusion of a lengthy legal battle. “We did this for the city. We did this for the culture,” she exclaimed in a video recorded outside a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California.

“It was a fight. It was a hell of a fight. We couldn’t be more happy,” she added, clearly moved by the outcome.

The lawsuit marked the couple’s third attempt to seek justice. They claimed that seven of the toys from MGA Entertainment’s popular LOL Surprise! OMG dolls line closely resembled the looks of their teen pop group, the OMG Girlz, during certain public appearances.

The initial trial began in January 2022 but ended in a mistrial after jurors were exposed to prohibited testimonies accusing MGA of cultural appropriation. A second trial occurred in May 2023, resulting in a win for MGA Entertainment. However, a Supreme Court ruling in June 2023 permitted a retrial.

TI and Tiny introduced the OMG Girlz in 2009, with Tiny’s daughter Zonnique “Star” Pullins as a core member. Although the group disbanded initially, Pullins, Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack reunited last year and are currently touring to promote new music.

All three members of the group provided testimony during the trial, which lasted three weeks. According to Deadline, the unanimous verdict determined that all seven dolls from a selection of 32 mirrored the Atlanta-based band’s likeness.

During the proceedings, TI’s attorney advocated for the jury to impose additional penalties against MGA ranging from $35 million to $72 million. Ultimately, the jury awarded the couple $17.8 million (£13.3 million) in compensatory damages, alongside $53.6 million (£40.1 million) in punitive damages.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, TI rebutted allegations from MGA’s lawyers, who described the lawsuit as a “money grab.” He stated, “[They were] trying to paint me as the bad guy when really, they were the [bad] ones. They were the ones that came and ripped us off, and [they] expected us to not have the audacity to stand up and speak for ourselves.”

He further elaborated, saying, “That kind of condescension comes from when you’re not really in touch with the reality of culture after you’ve gone so long kind of having it your way and nobody really standing up and speaking against you.”

MGA founder Isaac Larian denied the copyright infringement claims and asserted that the OMG Girlz did not serve as an influence for the company’s doll line. He characterized TI and Tiny as “extortionists” during the trial, as reported by People.

The Independent has reached out to MGA Entertainment for a comment on the verdict.