News
Tory Lanez Sentenced To 10 Years In Shooting of Megan Thee Stallion
Tory Lanez has been sentenced to ten years in prison for his involvement in the 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
In a long-awaited conclusion to a legal saga that has captured headlines and attention, Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in the 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The sentencing marks the end of a tumultuous journey through the judicial system, characterized by delays, legal maneuvers, and intense scrutiny.
Originally scheduled for January 27, Tory Lanez’s sentencing had been repeatedly postponed due to a series of legal developments. One pivotal moment came when Lanez switched legal representation, trading George Mgdesyan for David Kenner, a lawyer known for his previous work with prominent figures like Suge Knight and Snoop Dogg. This switch was driven by the desire to prepare for the possibility of an appeal, a path Mgdesyan was not inclined to undertake. “I don’t do appeals,” Mgdesyan stated, prompting Lanez to enlist someone who could handle this aspect of the case.
In a strategic move in June, Lanez’s legal team, including attorneys Matthew Barhoma and Jose Baez, sought the disqualification of Judge David Herriford. They claimed that Herriford exhibited bias in favor of the prosecution, undermining the fairness of the proceedings. However, the appellate court ultimately rejected this argument, denying Lanez’s request for extraordinary relief.
Lanez’s legal team then pursued an alternative strategy. In a bid for leniency, they proposed a sentence of probation along with enrollment in a substance abuse program. This proposal was rooted in the argument that Lanez was grappling with alcoholism at the time of the shooting, suggesting that his impaired judgment mitigated his culpability. In a detailed 41-page memo filed by attorneys Jose Baez and Ed Welbourn on August 1st, it was emphasized that Lanez’s actions were influenced by a history of psychological, physical, and childhood trauma.
They asserted, “Assuming the allegations are true, Mr. Peterson’s psychological, physical, and childhood trauma played a role in the commission of the offense. Similarly, the current offense is linked to Mr. Peterson’s childhood trauma and mental illness, specifically his alcohol-use disorder.”
Defense attorney Matthew Barhoma is still involved in the case. He just showed up to the courthouse and I got the tail end of the media mob. pic.twitter.com/ZzUfiA3SOa
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Also: Judge Herriford said while the shooting obviously involved alcohol, there is no evidence of Lanez being an alcoholic, including in the 76 letters submitted for Lanez. The doctor reports are entirely based on Lanez's own statements.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
"What is he alleging he did as a result of alcohol-use disorder if he didn’t do anything?" Herriford asked. "What did the doctor conclude he did as a result of alcohol use? It's very unclear."
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
Baez said "yelling" and the "argument that went back and forth in the car."
The incident occurred on July 12, 2020, following a gathering at Kylie Jenner’s residence in Hollywood Hills. After leaving the event, Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion were involved in an altercation that resulted in Megan being shot in both feet. Lanez was accused of not only committing the assault but also verbally demeaning her by telling her to “dance b*tch.”
The trial that followed spanned nine days in a Los Angeles courtroom, culminating in the jury’s decision on December 23, 2022. The jury found Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, guilty on charges that included assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
The prosecution had sought a sentence of 13 years for Lanez, highlighting the severity of the charges and the weight of the evidence presented during the trial.
Ahead of sentencing, Judge David Herriford received over 70 letters of support for Tory Lanez. Notably, acclaimed artist Iggy Azalea penned a letter to Judge Herriford, urging him to craft a sentence that was “transformational, not life-destroying.”
Alright we are on the 90-minute break. Judge Herriford got 70+ letters of support for Tory Lanez, including one from @IggyAzalea. He briefly summarized each one. Two jailers wrote letters, one spoke in court. Lanez' father, Sonstar Peterson, was the last speaker before the break.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
But Judge Herriford said no to finding the crime was done with a high-level of callousness. How this will affect the sentence is not yet known. We're going to get into that after lunch, after more speakers.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Judge Herriford’s role in shaping the sentence was pivotal. He deliberated over the aggravating factors that could influence the severity of the punishment. While acknowledging the use of a firearm and Megan Thee Stallion’s vulnerable status, Judge Herriford refrained from attributing a high degree of callousness to the commission of the crime.
A notable facet in Judge Herriford’s sentencing decision was his consideration of Lanez’s actions after the shooting. The judge stated that he believed Lanez’s post-shooting behavior, including social media posts and alleged harassment of Megan, constituted a significant aggravating factor in the sentencing. Although Judge Herriford clarified that he would not assess Lanez’s remorse, he drew parallels between the post-shooting actions and similar considerations.
Megan said she struggled with whether to attend in person, and her absence should be seen as her preserving her mental well being. She said since Tory shot her, "I've not experienced a single day of piece."
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
"He lied to anyone that would listen," Megan said of Lanez.
As the final gavel echoed, Tory Lanez’s fate was sealed by Judge Herriford’s ruling, emphasizing the intricate balance between justice, accountability, and the profound influence of actions.
Tory spoke for several minutes. He said he still cares about Megan. He called her "someone I still care for dearly to this day" regardless of what she may think of him.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
He said "the victim's my friend." He talked about bonding with her over the loss of their mothers.
About the shooting: "I said some very immature things that I shouldn't have said. I revealed some secrets I shouldn't have revealed," Lanez said.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
More from Megan Thee Stallion’s statement at Tory Lanez’s sentencing: “He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma. He tried to position himself as a victim and set out to destroy my character and my soul.”
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
“He lied to anyone that would listen and paid bloggers to disseminate false information about the case on social media. He released music videos and songs to damage my character and continue his crusade.”
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
– Megan @TheeStallion’s written statement at Tory Lanez’s sentencing
“At first, he tried to deny the shooting ever happened. Then, he attempted to place the blame on my former best friend. In his tantrum of lies, he’s blamed the system, blamed the press and, as of late, he’s using his childhood trauma to shield himself and avoid culpability.”
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
Culture
Megan Thee Stallion’s Lawyer Calls Harassment Lawsuit ‘Salacious’
Megan Thee Stallion‘s lawyer, Alex Spiro, addressed the lawsuit filed by Megan Thee Stallion’s former cameraman Emilio Garcia, alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Spiro, in a statement to Page Six on Tuesday (April 23), dismissed the lawsuit as an opportunistic money grab and characterized it as an attempt to tarnish his client’s reputation.
“This is an employment claim for money — with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her,” he said. “We will deal with this in court.”
The suit details an incident where Garcia allegedly found himself trapped in a moving SUV with Megan whileshe engaged in sexual activity with another woman during their time in Ibiza, Spain.
According to court documents, “The following day, STALLION inquired whether PLAINTIFF was in the SUV the previous night. PLAINTIFF confirmed that he was in the SUV. Subsequently, STALLION instructed, ‘Don’t ever discuss what you saw.’ STALLION berated and directed her fat-shaming comments towards PLAINTIFF such as ‘Fat Bitch,’ ‘Spit your food out,’ and that ‘You don’t need to be eating.’”
Garcia is seeking compensation of over six figures, Garcia’s lawsuit requests unpaid wages, overtime pay, and other benefits as per California labor laws, along with statutory penalties and punitive damages.
News
Kid Cudi Cancels Insano World Tour After Breaking His Foot At Coachella
Kid Cudi‘s Insano World Tour is hitting pause after the “Day ‘n’ Nite” artist sustained a broken foot as a result of jumping off stage during his performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on Sunday, April 21.
Hey guys, so I broke my foot today at the show. 🤦🏾♂️ just leavin the hospital. Never broken a bone before so this is all a bit crazy. I wanna thank u all for ur concerns and well wishes!! I love yall man. I heard yall still ragin when I was offstage. Made me smile big 🥹
— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) April 22, 2024
On Wednesday (April 24), he took to social media to announce the tour’s cancellation, prioritizing his return to peak performance for future engagements. Despite the setback, he assures fans of forthcoming tour dates and expresses heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering support.
“Guys, so, I have a broken calcaneus,” he wrote. “Im headed to surgery now and there’s gonna be a long recovery time. We have to cancel the tour so I can focus on getting better to be out there in top shape to rage with you all. Theres just no way I can bounce back in time to give 100%. The injury is much more serious than I thought. Anyone who bought tickets will get a full refund, you’ll get an email soon. We will be back with new tour dates as soon as possible, and I can’t wait to get back out there with you guys and turn up how we do. I’m so sorry fam and I love you all so much, thanks for the endless love and support.”
He ended with: “Im really disappointed as im sure you guys are too, but I will be back. Thats a promise. Im ok, just a lil soreness, but im in good spirits.”
Hahah for sure https://t.co/5vNpDvHCNW
— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) April 22, 2024
News
Megan Thee Stallion Faces New Lawsuit: Former Cameraman Alleges Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment
Megan Thee Stallion is being sued by her former cameraman, Emilio Garcia, alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Apr. 23, in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The suit obtained by NBC News outlines Garcia’s claims, alleging that he had been trapped in a moving vehicle with the Houston rapper in Ibiza while she engaged in sexual activity with another woman. Following this incident, Garcia says he was cautioned not to discuss what he witnessed and was subsequently subjected to beratement, fat-shaming, and differential treatment by Megan.
“What I learned throughout the years is that, especially coming from an from an office environment, is you know, there’s no HR department in the entertainment business,” Garcia told NBC News in an interview. “So if you don’t know that you’re being done wrong, you don’t really know how to advocate for yourself until you start asking maybe you start asking your peers who have representation, they have agents, they have management, they have attorney. So I just really just want to encourage people to advocate for themselves.”
Garcia also stated in the lawsuit that the severity and frequency of the harassment created an intolerable work environment. Garcia began his role as Megan Thee Stallion’s personal cameraman in 2018, continuing until June 2023. Seeking compensation of over six figures, Garcia’s lawsuit requests unpaid wages, overtime pay, and other benefits as per California labor laws, along with statutory penalties and punitive damages.
Following the Ibiza incident, Garcia claims his payment structure shifted from a flat monthly rate to a task-based system requiring invoice submissions for each assignment. Subsequently, he was terminated in June 2023 by Roc Nation, with notification that his services were no longer needed.
“Megan just needs to pay our client what he’s due, own up to her behavior and quit this sort of sexual harassment and fat shaming conduct,” said Ron Zambrano, an attorney for Garcia, in a statement to NBC News. “Emilio should never have been put in a position of having to be in the vehicle with her while she had sex with another woman. ‘Inappropriate’ is putting it lightly. Exposing this behavior to employees is definitely illegal.”
- Albums4 weeks ago
G Fredo Releases ‘Karma 2’
- Albums2 weeks ago
Drake Disses Kendrick Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin, Rick Ross & The Weeknd on Leaked Track
- News6 days ago
Rapper Chris King Has Reportedly Passed Away, According to Friends
- Albums3 weeks ago
J. Cole Releases Surprise New Project ‘Might Delete Later’
- Audio7 days ago
Chris Brown Releases New Quavo Diss Track ‘Weakest Link’
- Albums3 weeks ago
Doja Cat Releases ‘Scarlet 2 CLAUDE’ Deluxe Album
- Audio2 weeks ago
ASAP Rocky Disses Drake on Future & Metro Boomin’s New Song ‘Show of Hands’
- Music2 weeks ago
Chris Brown Disses Quavo On New Song