Judge Dismisses Morgan Carey’s Defamation Suit Against Mariah Carey Over Actual Malice Standard

A New York Supreme Court judge has dismissed the remaining claims in a long-running defamation lawsuit brought by Morgan Carey against his sister, pop icon Mariah Carey. The ruling, issued on October 19, 2026, effectively ends a legal battle that began in 2021 over passages in the singer’s 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

Justice Leslie A. Stroth dismissed the final two allegations in the suit, which originally sought damages exceeding $20 million. The dismissal hinged on Morgan Carey’s failure to meet the “actual malice” legal standard, a high bar for public figures or matters of public interest that requires proof a defendant knowingly made false statements or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

Justice Stroth took over the case following the retirement of the original presiding judge, Barbara Jaffe. This final ruling follows a 2022 decision where the court previously tossed out several other claims in the lawsuit, leaving only a few specific passages for further litigation.

The court found the plaintiff failed to clear the high 'actual malice' threshold required for defamation.

The remaining claims centered on two specific accusations Morgan Carey felt were defamatory: assertions that he had sold “powdered party favors” (cocaine) and that he had “been in the system,” suggesting he had been incarcerated. In her ruling, Justice Stroth determined that the plaintiff did not provide sufficient evidence to show that Mariah Carey published these statements with the necessary level of intent or recklessness required for a defamation lawsuit of this nature.

It is important to note that the court’s decision did not formally rule on whether the claims in the book were factually true. Instead, the legal resolution focused on the failure to clear the “actual malice” threshold. Under New York’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws, which were expanded in 2020, defendants have stronger protections when writing about matters of public interest, placing a heavier burden on plaintiffs to prove intentional falsehood.

Mariah Carey’s attorney, John Rosenberg, stated that the singer is gratified by the court’s decision, noting that the judge recognized the memoir as a matter of public interest and protected the singer’s right to tell her life story.

The legal battle may not be entirely over, however. Morgan Carey’s attorney, Richard Altman, has confirmed that they plan to appeal the dismissal. The sibling rivalry, which has played out in public for years, saw Morgan Carey initially claim the book caused him extreme emotional distress and damage to his reputation. Mariah Carey has consistently maintained that the memoir was an honest reflection of her experiences and upbringing.

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