Mariah Carey’s Brother Loses Defamation Lawsuit After Accusing Singer Of Lying About His Alleged Dr*g Dealing & Prison Past In Her Memoir

Mariah Carey, Morgan Carey

Mariah Carey’s Brother Loses Defamation Lawsuit After Accusing Singer Of Lying About His Alleged Dr*g Dealing & Prison Past In Her
Memoir

Mariah Carey has won a court battle against her brother Morgan Carey over allegations made in her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.”

On October 19, Judge Leslie A. Stroth dismissed Morgan’s defamation lawsuit, ruling he failed to establish “actual malice.”

“The Court finds that Plaintiff has not sufficiently pleaded actual malice on the part of Defendant,” Stroth wrote. “Plaintiff has alleged that Defendant was more concerned with the ‘commercial viability’ of her memoir than verifying the truth of her statements, and that Defendant’s sources for such statements are anonymous and/or unverifiable. Notably, Plaintiff fails to provide any proof that Defendant made such statements with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.”

Morgan sued in 2021 over passages suggesting he sold “powdered party favors” and had “been in the system.” Other disputed descriptions included a “vicious fight between my father and brother” and “sketchy contacts in the music industry.”

Mariah’s attorney, John Rosenberg, responded:

“Ms. Carey is gratified that the Court recognized that her memoir addresses significant issues of public interest and dismissed her brother’s defamation claims in their entirety.”

“Ms. Carey believes the importance of the Court’s decision goes well beyond her own interests in this particular litigation,” Rosenberg added, “as it confirms that authors must be afforded broad protection when they speak out on matters of public concern.”

Morgan’s lawyer, Richard Altman, intends to appeal.

“We respectfully disagree with today’s decision as being inconsistent with prior rulings in the case,” he said.