Judge Dismisses Morgan Carey Defamation Lawsuit
A New York judge rejected claims from Morgan Carey against his sister, Mariah Carey, regarding her 2020 memoir.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Celebrities
New York Supreme Court Justice Leslie A. Stroth has dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by Morgan Carey against his sister, singer Mariah Carey. The court also rejected efforts to add new emotional distress claims and allegations linked to a 2024 YouTube documentary.
Why it matters
The ruling limits the scope of the ongoing legal battle by enforcing strict standards for emotional distress claims and requiring evidence to connect third-party content to the defendant. It clarifies the legal threshold for defamation suits stemming from autobiographical accounts.
The lawsuit originated in March 2021 following the 2020 publication of Mariah Carey's memoir. A prior partial dismissal occurred in February 2022, which removed publishing defendants from the case.
The players
Mariah Carey
She is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and author known for her extensive discography and record-breaking chart success.
Morgan Carey
He is the brother of Mariah Carey and the plaintiff in this defamation litigation.
Leslie A. Stroth
She is a New York Supreme Court Justice who presided over the legal proceedings regarding the defamation claims.
The details
The court determined the proposed emotional distress claims were redundant to existing defamation counts and lacked a factual basis. Justice Stroth further noted there was no evidence linking Mariah Carey to a YouTube documentary released in July 2024.
Timeline
Mariah Carey published her memoir in 2020.
Morgan Carey filed his initial lawsuit in March 2021.
A judge dismissed claims against publishers in February 2022.
A YouTube documentary was published in July 2024.
The judge dismissed the remaining defamation lawsuit in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
High-profile celebrity memoirs frequently trigger legal scrutiny as public figures contest personal narratives presented in print. This case reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing protected autobiographical expression against claims of defamation in the entertainment industry.
The court's decision ensures that the memoir remains available for public consumption without additional legal encumbrances. Fans and readers can continue to access the narrative as published in 2020.
The takeaway
This outcome underscores the importance of evidentiary requirements in defamation cases involving public figures and personal memoirs. Litigants must provide concrete links between a celebrity and third-party content to successfully extend existing lawsuits.
Further reading
For more on the legal and personal lives of high-profile stars, visit our Celebrities section.
