"Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words," premiering on Prime Video on Thursday, meticulously unravels the multifaceted journey of the Houston rapper, a tale marked by towering triumphs and profound sorrows. In 2019, the self-styled H-town sensation suffered the devastating loss of both her mother and grandmother within the same month, and a year later, she was thrust into the vortex of a criminal probe and a character assassination saga when Tory Lanez was indicted for shooting her in the feet.
At the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary on Wednesday, Megan, with tears brimming in her eyes, took the stage at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to articulate the film's underlying motive. "I witnessed countless individuals depersonalizing me and attempting to seize control of my narrative, shaping my story for me," she confided to the audience. "That's precisely why I agreed to embark on this documentary venture. Allow me to bare my soul and lay my truth bare on the table, for you only respect raw honesty. I tried to conform to your cookie-cutter celebrity mold, but it failed. I am a genuine, unapologetic hot girl coach. You're about to witness Megan Pete for the very first time."
Born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete in San Antonio, Texas, Megan's mother, Holly Thomas, a rapper who went by the moniker Holly-Wood, relocated them to Houston. "I wouldn't be the woman I am today without Holly Thomas," Megan emotionally declared. "Mom told me to keep my business to myself, but I believe this is the ideal moment to share my story."
Director Nneka Onuorah is equally enthusiastic about introducing viewers to the real Megan Pete. "The inquisitive, vulnerable, and humble 'Meg' you'll see," Onuorah revealed to The Hollywood Reporter. "I think they'll realize she's just like everyone else. It's a breathtaking sight. I'm thrilled for people to meet the person I truly know."
Gaining Megan's trust and access to her life was a grueling process for both women. "I gave Nneka a hard time for three long years," Megan admitted in her opening speech. "When they first approached me about making a documentary about me, I flatly refused." Megan recounted how she initially instructed the producing team to turn off their cameras upon arrival, only for Onuorah to whip out her cell phone and start filming.
"I earned her trust by dedicating my time and effort to her," Onuorah shared. "She saw that I wasn't just there for the Megan Thee Stallion persona. I was determined to get this movie done. I was very straightforward about that. Normally, I'd have a full film crew, but for many parts of this movie, especially in intimate settings like her car and home, I stayed close to her throughout the process."
The result is a poignant 112-minute documentary that delves into the fragile underbelly of fame, encompassing social media scandals, mental health battles, the pressures of success, and, most importantly, the unyielding resilience that has brought her to this point. "My final message to my hotties is, I don't care one bit about the hate campaign," Megan concluded her introduction with defiance. "I don't care what they're saying on the internet. I don't care what they claim I'm not doing. You see in real-time what I'm achieving. I'm doing real things, and you're real people. I'm a real person too, and I'm deeply grateful to have you as my genuine supporters."
"Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words" is now streaming on Prime Video.
