Canadian rapper and singer, Tory Lanez, is set to receive his sentence on Monday for shooting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion in both feet during a heated argument in the summer of 2020. The incident, which gradually came to light via social media and law enforcement accounts, has sparked a yearslong legal drama, capturing tabloid headlines and raising important discussions about the treatment of Black women in the music industry and beyond.
Prosecutors are pushing for a 13-year sentence, arguing that Lanez displayed a lack of remorse and was unwilling to take responsibility for his actions. They accuse him of launching a campaign to humiliate and retraumatize the victim through misinformation, urging his large following to rally against Megan Thee Stallion and the prosecution team.
In December, Lanez was found guilty of three felony counts, including assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He faces a maximum of 22 years and eight months in prison and may also face potential deportation to Canada.
Lanez's lawyers previously filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that certain evidence, including Instagram posts and a tattoo displayed in court, was prejudicial. However, the motion was denied by the judge in May.
During a hearing, Lanez pleaded with the judge, saying, "Please don't ruin my life. I could be your son, I could be your brother."
Before the trial, both artists engaged in public feuds through songs and social media for over a year. Megan Thee Stallion testified that Lanez shot at her multiple times after an altercation in an S.U.V. with another friend, Kelsey Harris, while they were on their way home from a pool party at Kylie Jenner's residence.
Initially, Megan Thee Stallion had told responding officers that she had stepped on glass, but later identified Lanez as her assailant on Instagram. She mentioned concerns about career repercussions and the police killing of George Floyd as reasons for not immediately naming him as the perpetrator.
In court, Ms. Harris did not identify Lanez as the gunman, though her earlier text messages and an interview with detectives corroborated Megan Thee Stallion's account.
Lanez's sentencing, initially scheduled for January, has faced multiple reschedules as he hired new lawyers and sought a new trial. The defense raised concerns about potentially biased evidence, including a shirtless photo revealing a firearm tattoo, which they feared could portray Lanez as a "gun-wielding career criminal."
As the sentencing date approaches, the legal saga continues to captivate public attention, raising important questions about justice and accountability in the music industry.