Megan Thee Stallion became visibly emotional during her performance in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, following the circulation of a pornographic deepfake video that allegedly used artificial intelligence to superimpose her face. The incident occurred during her Hot Girl Summer Tour, where she struggled to maintain her composure while performing her song “Cobra,” which touches on themes of depression.
In a video captured by a fan, Megan can be seen getting choked up and pausing during the lyrics, “Breakin’ down and I had the whole world watchin’ / But the worst part is really who watched me / Every night I cried, I almost died / And nobody close tried to stop it.” She managed to continue with a few more lines before fanning herself and covering her face to hold back tears.
Although Megan did not directly address the deepfake video during her performance, she took to X (formerly Twitter) the same day to express her frustration. “It’s really sick how yall go out of the way to hurt me when you see me winning. Yall going too far, Fake ass shit. Just know today was your last day playing with me and I mean it,” she posted.
The incident highlights a growing issue of deepfake videos targeting public figures, with other celebrities like Taylor Swift and podcast host Bobbi Althoff also falling victim to such fabricated content earlier this year.
Megan’s emotional moment on stage was met with overwhelming support from her fans, who rallied around her with cheers and messages of encouragement. The hashtag #WeLoveYouMegan trended on X over the weekend, showing the strong support from her fanbase.
Despite the distressing situation, Megan took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support during the Tampa show. “TAMPA HOTTIES 🥹🥹🥹🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽 Thank you i love yall! Thee energy was everything! Love you hotties 💙,” she captioned a video montage posted on Sunday.
Megan has a lot to look forward to, with her self-titled third studio album set to release on June 28. She has been actively promoting the album on social media, sharing different looks and album covers with her fans. “SURPRISE HOTTIESSSS!!!! My New Album ‘MEGAN” will be coming out JUNE 28 PRE-SAVE NOW!,” she announced on X earlier this month.
In an interview with Women’s Health, Megan opened up about how her “rebirth” inspired her upcoming album. She discussed the public’s reaction to her testifying against former friend Tory Lanez during his felony assault trial in December 2022. Lanez was convicted on three counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan in the feet.
Megan revealed that she had been suffering in silence, maintaining a facade for the public while dealing with her struggles. “Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans,” she recalled. “I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers. I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”
Megan has been a vocal advocate for mental health resources. In 2022, she launched the Pete and Thomas Foundation, named after her parents, to support women, children, senior citizens, and underserved communities. She also launched a website called “Bad B**ches Have Bad Days Too,” which provides links to free therapy organizations, suicide and substance abuse helplines, among other resources.
As a rapper who has always shown her vulnerability and strength in her music, Megan told Women’s Health that she is growing into her ability to make music that is true to herself and her message. “I’m proud to still be here. I didn’t quit. I want to see myself grow and be better than I am right now. And I will. I know I will,” she said.
Megan’s emotional moment in Tampa serves as a reminder of the challenges public figures face in the digital age, where deepfake technology can be used to create harmful and misleading content. Despite these challenges, Megan continues to push forward, supported by her fans and determined to stay true to herself.
