Megan Thee Stallion Inspired by late mother to open up in new documentary

Megan Thee Stallion drew inspiration from her late mother to find the strength to open up in the new Prime Video documentary, “Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words.”

Directed by Nneka Onuorah, the film captures the rapper (real name Megan Pete) dealing with grief, the death of her mother and manager Holly Thomas from cancer in 2019, and mental health issues that included suicidal thoughts. The doc also includes the sentence of Tory Lanez after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting her during a 2020 road rage incident.

“I really feel like I drew a lot of strength from my mom,” Megan told me at the Doctor’s premiere Wednesday night at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. “I know my mom was super outspoken and she was super tough, and I feel like when I found my mom’s voice in myself, I was like, ‘Go out there and tell them people exactly who you are.’ That is what we are doing today.”

Onuorah said Megan was “hesitant at first” when they started filming two years ago. “Sometimes she didn’t show up to film,” Onuorah said. “One time we had to turn each other on the side at like three in the morning. She said, “Hey, come to the studio.” I met her in the studio and I was like, ‘Look, man, I’m not, I’m not here to hurt you. I am here to support you as a woman. And I know it’s tough out here, but I really want to see you flourish and I really want to see your story told from your perspective.’ And she agreed.”

The two spent many hours alone together. Onuorah would often do double duty as director and camera operator. “Having Megan open up means I had to open up,” she said. “I literally opened my soul to her. Typically, I have a crew that I direct to film the artist. But in this case, I told her, ‘I’ll stay with you. I’ll film your travels, and if you’re in your home, in your car, I’ll be there.’ I would give her myself.

“I was conscious of pushing her too far,” she continued. “I always checked in with her. I could tell where she was at. That’s why I was there all the time. But when I needed a push, I pushed and said, ‘Come on, let’s do it. here. I’m right here with you.’ So sometimes it was just connecting arm and arm and just saying, ‘I’ve got your girl”.

Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, “Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words” is a TIME Studios and Roc Nation production in association with Nneka Productions.

IMAX partnered with Amazon Prime Video to simultaneously premiere the film Wednesday at the TCL Chinese Theater and 10 other IMAX theaters across the United States

“Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words” is now available on Prime Video.

See more photos from the purple carpet premiere below.