A high-profile courtroom clash between rapper T.I. and Sabrina Peterson is officially on the horizon. A Los Angeles judge has scheduled a trial date for June 9, 2026, marking the next chapter in a tangled legal feud that has been unfolding for years.
The dispute dates back to December 2024, when T.I. filed a defamation lawsuit against Peterson. He accused her of spreading damaging falsehoods online, including a serious claim that he was under federal investigation for sex trafficking—allegations that T.I. vehemently denies.
However, this legal showdown isn’t new. In 2021, Peterson, who was once closely associated with T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris, launched her lawsuit against the couple. She accused them of defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. Among her explosive allegations was an incident where T.I. allegedly pointed a gun at her. Peterson also claimed the Harris family attempted to damage her reputation after she spoke out publicly.
Peterson faced a major blow in June 2023 when five of her seven claims were dismissed. Only her defamation and invasion of privacy charges remained. Compounding her troubles, she struggled to pay nearly $100,000 in court-ordered legal fees awarded to T.I. and Tiny, requesting a modest payment plan due to financial hardship. Eventually, her case was dismissed without prejudice in March 2025 for inactivity and nonpayment, and a contempt charge related to the unpaid fees was dropped.
In the wake of Peterson’s dismissal, T.I. launched his own suit, alleging that Peterson’s Instagram posts and livestreams inflicted serious damage to his reputation and privacy.
Before the trial begins, both parties are required to attend a court-ordered settlement conference with a private mediator by November 24, 2025. The court has warned that if either side fails to attend, the trial will be paused. Should no agreement be reached, the case will proceed to trial in June next year.
