T.I. is being sued for trademark infringement over his upcoming film Situationships, with web series creator Cylia Senii accusing him of intellectual property theft.
Filed in Georgia, the lawsuit claims the rapper lifted the title from Senii’s series of the same name, which debuted on YouTube in 2016 and has since been distributed by BET Digital, Amazon Prime Video, and Tubi.
Senii’s series explores millennial relationships and ran for two seasons. Between 2019 and 2024, she says she developed TV and film adaptations of the project and held meetings to expand the brand. She alleges that Grand Hustle Films—T.I.’s production company—knowingly infringed on her work by using the Situationships title for a film he wrote, directed, and stars in.
According to the complaint, individuals who previously worked on Senii’s show now appear to be involved in T.I.’s film. One is a longtime friend of the rapper’s family. Another reportedly discussed the original project with her before joining the new production.
The lawsuit also highlights an ironic twist: T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, recently won $71 million in a separate IP lawsuit after a toy company modeled dolls on their girl group, OMG Girlz. Senii’s suit references that victory, arguing T.I. should understand the importance of protecting creative work.
Senii says she sent a cease and desist letter in December and challenged T.I.’s attempts to trademark the film title. One application was rejected in May for potentially confusing consumers.
She’s now seeking a court injunction to block the release of Situationships under its current name, along with financial damages. Neither T.I. nor Grand Hustle Films has commented.
The case highlights growing tensions between independent creators and high-profile artists who tap into online culture for inspiration without securing rights.
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