A legal showdown between T.I. and Sabrina Peterson is officially on the horizon, with a Los Angeles judge setting a trial date for the rapper’s defamation lawsuit. T.I. took legal action in December 2024, accusing Peterson of spreading false statements online, including a damaging claim that he was being investigated by federal authorities for sex trafficking.
This court battle traces back to 2021, when Peterson, once close to the Harris family, filed her own suit against T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris. She accused them of defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. Her allegations included an incident where T.I. allegedly pointed a gun at her. Peterson also claimed the couple sought to tarnish her reputation publicly after she spoke out.
In June 2023, Peterson suffered a major setback. Five of her seven claims were dismissed. Only the defamation and invasion of privacy claims remained. She then struggled to pay nearly $100,000 in court-ordered legal fees to T.I. and Tiny, requesting a $1,000 monthly payment plan due to financial hardship. Ultimately, her case was dismissed without prejudice in March 2025. This was due to inactivity and failure to pay. The contempt charge related to the unpaid fees was also dropped.
Following this dismissal, T.I. filed his own suit, alleging that Peterson’s Instagram posts and livestreams caused harm to his reputation and invaded his privacy.
Before the case goes to trial, both sides must attend a court-ordered settlement conference. This meeting will be with a private mediator. It must take place by November 24, 2025. If either party fails to show, the trial will be halted. If no settlement is reached, the trial is scheduled to begin on June 9, 2026.
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