Clifford “T.I.” Harris and Tameka “Tiny” Harris secured a major legal victory after a defamation lawsuit filed by their former friend was tossed out by a judge. The lawsuit stemmed from disturbing allegations made in 2021, but this week, the court officially dismissed the case, putting a hard stop to the public dispute that has lingered for years.
The suit was filed by Sabrina Peterson, a former associate of the couple, who accused them of defamation following their public denials of her previous claims. Peterson originally made headlines after alleging that T.I. once put a gun to her head during an argument. Soon after, she took to social media demanding an apology from the rapper. Instead, the couple clapped back online and publicly questioned her credibility, which prompted Peterson to fire back with a lawsuit citing defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. But the court wasn’t buying it.
According to recently released court documents, a judge ruled that T.I. and Tiny’s statements didn’t meet the legal standard for defamation. The judge concluded that the couple’s comments were opinions and not verifiable false statements of fact, which are required to prove a defamation claim.
Peterson’s case also fell short due to her status as a “limited-purpose public figure,” meaning she needed to show actual malice that the couple knowingly made false statements with intent to harm. The judge said she failed to do that.
The couple has yet to issue a statement, but their legal team expressed satisfaction with the outcome. This decision not only clears T.I. and Tiny’s name in the eyes of the court but also allows them to move forward without the weight of ongoing litigation hanging over their heads.
This legal win adds another chapter to the couple’s long and public journey through celebrity scrutiny, family life, and entrepreneurship. T.I., known for his groundbreaking run in hip-hop and activism in Atlanta, and Tiny, a member of the iconic R&B group Xscape, have been together through high-profile highs and lows. Despite the headlines and controversy, their brand as a power couple continues to thrive across music, business, and reality TV.
