Rapper T.I. and his wife, Tiny, recently found themselves at the center of a high-profile legal battle involving their former girl group, OMG Girlz. The trial has garnered significant public attention and raised questions about what exactly happened.
Here is everything to know about Rapper T.I. and wife Tiny’s lawsuit against MGA Entertainment.
Rapper T.I. and wife Tiny win $71 million in lawsuit
Rapper T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, recently won a $71 million lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, the creators of the popular L.O.L. Surprise! dolls. The couple claimed that MGA’s “O.M.G.” dolls bore a resemblance to the members of the OMG Girlz. Tiny formed the pop group 15 years ago, which included her daughter, Zonnique “Star” Pullins (via Forbes).
After a three-week trial, a federal jury in Orange County, California, found MGA Entertainment guilty of infringing on the intellectual property of the OMG Girlz. The jury awarded $17.8 million in actual damages, representing MGA’s profits from the dolls, and an additional $53.6 million in punitive damages.
During the trial, the OMG Girlz members, including Pullins, Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack, testified that the dolls closely mirrored their unique looks from various public appearances. The plaintiffs’ attorneys also presented evidence showing that fans on social media noted the similarities. Fans assumed the dolls were inspired by the group.
MGA Entertainment argued that they did not model the dolls after the short-lived group, which disbanded in 2015. The company further contended that the group suffered no tangible harm. This marked the third attempt by T.I. and Tiny to bring the toy company to court over the issue. It is followed by a mistrial and an overturned verdict in previous cases.
MGA Entertainment has the option to appeal the recent ruling. However, they have not officially commented on their next steps.
