Mariah Carey Triumphant in $20M Legal Battle with Her Brother

Mariah Carey emerges victorious in her five-year legal battle against her brother Morgan, who sued her for defamation over her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

Mariah Carey’s brother Morgan previously sued the superstar in 2021 over her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, alleging she had damaged his reputation by depicting him as a violent man and occasional drug dealer. Now, a New York State Supreme Court Justice has dismissed the case, ruling that Morgan Carey failed to prove that his sister acted with “actual malice” when writing about him in her memoir.

“[Morgan] has not sufficiently pleaded actual malice on the part of [Mariah],” wrote Judge Leslie A. Stroth on Monday. “[Morgan] fails to provide any proof that [Mariah] made such statements with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. While [Morgan] alleges that [Mariah] demonstrates ill will towards her brother, such statement is insufficient, and [Morgan] has not satisfied the pleading requirement for actual malice.”

“[Mariah] 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,” said the singer’s lawyer, adding that his client “believes the importance of the court’s decision goes well beyond her own interests in this particular litigation, as it confirms that authors must be afforded broad protection when they speak out on matters of public concern.”

Carey’s brother had claimed that the damages he suffered through the depiction of him in Mariah’s book “exceeded $20 million.”

“[Morgan] brings this action more in sorrow and disappointment in his sister’s betrayals and malicious falsehoods than in anger at them,” the original filing stated. “He is by no means envious of his sister’s enormous artistic and personal success, has enjoyed his own successes both professional and personal, and has always wished her well.”

However, Morgan Carey’s lawyer expressed that they intend to appeal the court’s decision. “We respectfully disagree with today’s decision as being completely inconsistent with prior rulings in the case,” said attorney Richard Altman.

Morgan isn’t the only Carey to file suit against Mariah over her memoir. About a month before her brother’s lawsuit, Mariah was hit with a $1.25 million complaint filed by her older sister, Alison Carey, over claims of emotional distress caused by the memoir. That suit was never pursued, and Alison passed away in 2024.