Judge Tosses Morgan Carey’s Defamation Case Against Mariah Carey Over Her Memoir
A court dismissed Morgan Carey’s defamation lawsuit against Mariah Carey concerning her 2020 memoir. The judge found that Morgan did not adequately show actual malice, the standard required for a public figure defamation claim. Mariah’s lawyer said she was pleased with the ruling, while Morgan intends to appeal.
Morgan Carey sued in 2021, months after The Meaning of Mariah Carey became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. His initial complaint cited eight passages, including a family fight and music-industry contacts. In 2022, Judge Barbara Jaffe dismissed most claims but let two proceed: one about 1980s club drug sales and another about prison.
After further litigation, Judge Leslie A. Stroth dismissed the case on Oct. 19, 2026, finding actual malice insufficiently pleaded. Mariah’s attorney, John Rosenberg, said the ruling protected authors discussing public concerns. Morgan’s attorney, Richard Altman, plans to appeal, calling the decision inconsistent with earlier rulings.
This ruling may reinforce broad legal protection for memoirists and other authors writing about public-interest topics, potentially making it harder for relatives or public figures to win defamation claims without strong evidence of intentional falsehood. It could affect publishers’ willingness to release candid personal stories and shape how families of celebrities pursue reputational disputes. For readers, it may influence access to unflattering accounts, while appeals could prolong uncertainty for both parties.