Megan Thee Stallion has been granted a restraining order against her label after they allegedly attempted to “harm” her career ahead of this weekend’s 2022 American Music Awards.
According to court documents obtained by Billboard, the Houston rapper (real name Megan Pete) was granted a restraining order against 1501 Certified Entertainment, along with her distributor 300 Entertainment, over claims 1501 took steps “to block or interfere with Pete exploiting, licensing, or publishing her music” in the run-up to the AMAs.
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While it’s unclear how 1501 tried to block the use of Megan’s music exactly, the order — filed in Harris County District Court in Texas — states Megan “provided evidence” that the Houston-based label “recently engaged and will continue to engage in threatening and retaliatory behavior that will irreparably harm” her career.
The court noted it filed an ex parte order — a type of emergency order granted without waiting for a response from the other side — “because there was not enough time to give notice to Defendants, hold a hearing, and issue a restraining order before the irreparable injury, loss, or damage would occur.”
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It added that Megan “will suffer irreparable harm if her music cannot be used in conjunction with her promotion for the AMAs.” Voting for the awards show ended on Monday night (November 14), while the ceremony itself takes place at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on Sunday (November 20). A hearing on Megan’s restraining order request has been set for November 22.
The 27-year-old is nominated for one award in the Favorite Female Hip Hop Artist category alongside Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, GloRilla and Latto. Lil Baby, GloRilla, J.I.D, Stevie Wonder and Ari Lennox are among those set to perform, while Wayne Brady has been tapped to host.
Megan previously pulled out of performing at the 2021 AMAs at the last minute due to an “unexpected personal matter.” She was scheduled to share the stage with K-pop group BTS to perform their hit collaboration “Butter.”
The restraining order is just the latest development in the messy and long-running legal battle between Megan The Stallion and 1501 Certified Entertainment. In March 2020, Tina Show sued 1501 founder Carl Crawford, claiming the contract she signed in 2018 was “unconscionable” and well below industry standards. She has also repeatedly accused the label of blocking her from releasing music.
Megan’s 2021 album Something For Thee Hotties spawned another legal scuffle earlier this year. Megan filed a lawsuit in February claiming the almost 45-minute project meets the definition of an album and therefore counts toward fulfilling her contract with 1501. However, the label countersued the following month, arguing its 29 minutes of original material doesn’t meet the criteria.
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In August, Megan Thee Stallion attempted to secure her exit from 1501 by amending her lawsuit and claiming her latest album Traumazine satisfied her deal. She also upped her demands by asking for at least $1 million in damages.
