T.I. and Tiny Harris have learned the hard way that victories in a court of law can prove just as brief as a chart-topping hit. Fresh off a record $71 million jury verdict earlier this year in their lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, the toy company that produces the mega-hit L.O.L. Surprise! OMG, dolls, the couple's legal win was officially thrown out this week.
Yesterday (July 8, 2025), U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled that while there was some evidence MGA might have borrowed from the OMG Girlz' image, it wasn't enough to warrant the enormous damages awarded initially. The judge's take is that a couple of nondescript allusions in emails and a designer's Pinterest board containing 1,200 fashion images weren't enough.
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"Not clear and convincing," Selna wrote in a terse decision which said that while jurors could infer that MGA stole the girl group's identity, there was no hard evidence of intentional copying or "conscious disregard for the rights of others."
The judge also was unpersuaded that MGA's conduct was especially shady or harmful. He noted there hadn't been "profound emotional suffering" for the OMG Girlz, nor were the Harrises, while hurt, in a financial crisis. In other words, the vibes were bad, but the vibes were not illegal.
As a last-ditch option, the judge suggested allowing $1 in symbolic punitive damages, rather than forcing this case back into court. T.I. and Tiny refused and are preparing for a new full trial. So hang on, this legal thriller is far from over.
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2023, claimed that MGA Entertainment had poached the group's signature look, including bright colors, big hair, and an attitude characterized by fun and youthful carelessness, for their line of OMG dolls without permission. And the original jury agreed, awarding a whopping $71 million in damages to the Harrises. Now that the celebration has been indefinitely paused.
If that wasn't drama enough for one summer, the pair are also finding themselves subject to renewed public scrutiny. Former associate Sabrina Peterson recently resurfaced previous claims on Instagram, making more headlines. Responding with his poetic gift of gab, T.I. filmed himself in a more zen-like manner, embracing peace over pettiness.
"It's a really nice day to not put out lies and negativity," he added calmly in the video. "God has given us this wonderful day. Don't take it for granted."
He included a message targeted at detractors: "Don't be out here spreading propaganda because you're unhappy with your life... YOUR BLESSINGS ARE COMING.
Though there's no official start date to the retrial, it's safe to say T.I. and Tiny are not finished fighting. Whether in the courtroom or the court of public opinion, this saga is thicker than a daytime soap. Stay tuned.
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