T.I. And Tiny Harris’ OMG Girlz Lawsuit Dismissed As Mistrial

The OMG Girlz was a group of four girls ranging in age from 11 to 13. Sisters Bahja and Lourdes Rodriguez, Lil Wayne’s daughter Reginae Carter, and Tiny Harris’ daughter Zonnique Pullins were among those in the group. In a recent lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, Tiny and T.I. claimed that the company had stolen the former girl group’s look for its L.O.L Surprise OMG dolls. However, according to recent reports, the trial ended in a mistrial.

The MGA case involving T.I. and his wife Tiny Harris has been ruled a mistrial after the toymaker claimed accusations of cultural appropriation had spoiled the chance for a fair trial. On January 25, Judge James V. Selna granted a mistrial in accordance with MGA’s objection. The decision followed Tiny’s attempt to acquire OMG Girlz’s intellectual property rights.

T.I. and Tiny stated that MGA revealed its intention to release a line of dolls based on the OMG Girlz in 2010, but that the company was unable to secure a licensing agreement and would not discuss compensation. The toy company expressed disappointment with the mistrial verdict in a statement to Billboard but insisted that diversity has always been at the center of their work.

MGA stated,

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“Diversity has always been a key value. We are disappointed that the trial was cut short, but look forward to vindicating our rights in the next trial.”

T.I. and Tiny had tried to convince a jury that the company tried to copy the appearance of a group of “young multicultural women” and that the doll line was an example of “cultural appropriation and outright theft of the intellectual property.” Both the images of the look were used in the lawsuit to show how each doll was modeled after a specific OMG Girlz member.

Moneice Campbell, a former MGA customer, gave jurors videotaped deposition testimony as the trial entered its fifth day, allegedly stating that she would no longer buy the business’s products because MGA “steals from African Americans and their ideas and profit off of it.” The attorneys for MGA demanded a mistrial right away, writing in their filing, “There is no way to unring the bell of the jury’s hearing Ms. Campbell’s emotionally charged accusations that MGA has been ‘stealing’ from the African-American community.”

“Her improper testimony cannot be challenged, rebutted or cured without drawing further attention to it.”

The group, which is best known for its songs “Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Where the Boys At?” and “Gucci This (Gucci That”),” also made several appearances in the 2012 television series T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle. The group split up in 2015. Keep an eye on Thirsty to get the latest updates regarding this ongoing case.

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