Cultural Appropriation Mistrial Derails OMG Dolls-T.I. Fight(1)

The maker of the popular L.O.L. Surprise! OMG Dolls was granted a mistrial in an intellectual property dispute with rapper T.I. and former teen pop group OMG Girlz, after a California federal judge determined that prohibited testimony on cultural appropriation was introduced.

MGA Entertainment Inc. attorney Jennifer Keller confirmed the mistrial to Bloomberg Law on Wednesday.

Prior to trial, which began Jan. 17, Judge James V. Selna of the Central District of California barred testimony about the dolls’ alleged racist cultural appropriation.

“Because of the incurable prejudicial cultural appropriation deposition testimony played to the jury,” wrote MGA in its written ...