Tekashi69 Sued Under Federal Revenge Porn Law in Florida Federal Court
Controversial rapper Daniel Hernandez, professionally known as Tekashi69 or 6ix9ine, is facing explosive allegations in a federal lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida by his former partner, Dominican artist Jorgina Lulu Guillermo Diaz, a/k/a Yailin La Más Viral. Among the many claims in the complaint, one of the most legally significant involves alleged violations of 15 U.S.C. § 6851, a relatively new federal law addressing nonconsensual pornography.
According to the Second Amended Complaint, Hernandez allegedly recorded sexually explicit videos of the plaintiff during their relationship—some while she was unaware or incapacitated—and later published them on X (formerly Twitter) without her consent in August 2024. The lawsuit claims these postings were acts of retaliation after the plaintiff ended both their romantic and professional relationship.
The federal statute at issue, 15 U.S.C. § 6851, was enacted in 2022 as part of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act. It provides a civil cause of action for individuals whose intimate images are distributed online without consent. The statute allows for liquidated damages of up to $150,000 per violation, actual damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief—including permanent bans on future dissemination.
In this case, the complaint alleges that Hernandez was the only individual in possession of the explicit material and had previously threatened to release it. The lawsuit describes multiple postings and re-postings of the images and videos, reinforcing the claim that Hernandez engaged in a calculated pattern of digital abuse to intimidate and control the plaintiff.
The suit also alleges that Hernandez commercially exploited the plaintiff’s likeness (and even that of her infant daughter) in music videos and social media content without consent, using her image to promote his brand and generate revenue.
Why This Matters
This case is among the first high-profile civil actions brought under 15 U.S.C. § 6851 and may serve as an important precedent for how federal courts interpret and apply the statute in the context of celebrity, power imbalance, and digital platforms. For attorneys representing victims of image-based abuse, Diaz v. Hernandez demonstrates the viability of combining federal claims under § 6851 with related tort claims such as assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraud.
Key Takeaway for Practitioners: If your client’s intimate images have been shared without consent—particularly in online spaces—federal remedies under 15 U.S.C. § 6851 may offer meaningful relief, including both monetary damages and powerful injunctive options. Always confirm whether the conduct satisfies the statute’s definitions and whether the alleged perpetrator’s identity and intent can be clearly shown.
