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Rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for assaulting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez was found guilty of shooting Megan in the foot during an argument in July 2020. The incident occurred as they left a party at Kylie Jenner’s home. Lanez was convicted of assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, and negligent discharge of a gun. Despite the conviction, Lanez described Megan as his friend and spoke about their shared experiences. Megan did not appear in court but issued a statement calling for justice. The shooting sparked controversy, with Lanez’s fans and fellow artists attacking Megan. The media coverage of the trial has been relatively low compared to other high-profile cases involving celebrities. Anastasia Tsioulcas,Chloe Veltman reported
Rapper Tory Lanez was handed a 10-year prison sentence on Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Superior Court for assaulting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion. In July 2020, Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion in the foot as they were leaving a party at Kylie Jenner’s residence. He was found guilty of all three charges brought against him: assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, and negligent discharge of a gun.
During his sentencing, Lanez spoke for a few minutes, expressing his continued care for the plaintiff, despite her feelings towards him. He shared how they had bonded over the loss of their mothers. Megan Thee Stallion did not attend the court session, but released a written statement, emphasizing the importance of holding the defendant accountable for his actions.
The shooting took place after an argument between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez in the car they were traveling in, along with Megan’s friend and Lanez’s bodyguard. Lanez began shooting at her feet when she exited the vehicle. She was subsequently hospitalized and underwent surgery. Prosecutors sought a substantial sentence for Lanez, highlighting his subsequent attempts to humiliate and re-traumatize the victim through social media campaigns.
Lanez’s defense team argued for rehabilitation instead of incarceration, citing his struggles with alcohol, childhood trauma, and mental health. Judge David Herriford heard testimonials and letters in support of the defendant. The media coverage of this case has been comparatively less extensive than other high-profile trials involving male and female celebrities, such as the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard case. However, it garnered attention due to the negative treatment Megan Thee Stallion received from Lanez’s fans and fellow artists.
District Attorney Alex Bott characterized the shooting as an act of misogyny towards Megan Thee Stallion. Many cultural critics share this viewpoint, acknowledging the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Megan initially told the police that she had stepped on broken glass, but during her testimony at Lanez’s trial, she tearfully explained her fear of the police and the defendant, which prevented her from immediately telling the truth. She also revealed that Lanez had offered her and her friend $1 million each to keep quiet about the incident.
Lanez’s album released two months after the shooting contained lyrics denying his involvement and claiming he had been framed. The maximum sentence he could have received for the crimes he was convicted of is 22 years and eight months. However, a recently passed California law aimed at criminal justice reform requires courts to impose a mid-range prison term unless aggravating circumstances exist. Judge Herriford had previously denied Lanez’s request for a retrial. Furthermore, as a Canadian citizen, Lanez may face deportation from the United States once he completes his sentence..
