Tory Lanez maintains his innocence despite his conviction in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting.
On Friday, the incarcerated rapper took to social media to write an open letter to L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón, accusing him of being “robbed and deprived of a fair trial.”
“Today, I take a stance as an innocent Black Man, wrongfully convicted of a crime I DID NOT commit,” he wrote in the letter, which he also read aloud during a phone call from prison. “I’ve seen two district attorneys from your office, Kathy Ta and Alex Bott, unlawfully abuse their authority to conceal and suppress any and all exculpatory evidence that exonerates me or furthers my innocence.” I was completely cheated and denied a fair trial.”
Lanez was convicted in December on three felony counts. During a hearing on May 8, his attorneys intend to argue for a new trial. He claims that he owes it to himself, his family, and “hundreds of thousands of Black and Hispanic minorities” to fight for his liberty.
“For three years, the prosecution has manipulated a false narrative, leaving me with no choice but to expose and make public the practices, behind-the-scenes deals, and unjust system used to illegally convict me and countless other minorities,” he continues. “We elected you because of your exceptional ability to render fair and correct judgments in the justice of people of color.”
He concluded by requesting that Gascón “simply do what is fair and right in the eyes of the laws of California, and most importantly in the eyes of God.”
Megan Thee Stallion spoke out for the first and “final time” since the guilty verdict earlier this week. The Houston rapper opened up about her experiences over the last three years and her path to healing in an essay for ELLE.
“On December 23, 2022, the guilty verdict was more than just vindication for me; it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them,” she wrote.
“The physical and mental scars from this ordeal will sting forever, but I’m taking the necessary steps to resume my life.”
Lanez, who faces 22 years in prison and deportation, requested a new trial last month. His attorneys contend that certain evidence and statements made by witnesses on the stand were prejudicial to their client, such as an Instagram comment made by Lanez’s account claiming that Megan’s former best friend Kelsey Harris was not the shooter.
