The Los Angeles Superior Court sentenced Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison earlier this week, on Tuesday, after being found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in July of 2020.
Lanez, who was facing a maximum sentence of 22 years, was found guilty of three felony charges: assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, and negligent discharge of a gun for shooting the victim.
This marks the end of a legal battle that began last year and a swirling wind of events that has been hovering over the lives of both artists since 2020. Lanez, who was convicted on Dec. 23 of last year, initially denied any wrongdoing and would often take to social media to mock the situation. Following his conviction, the artist’s legal team motioned for a new trial citing improperly admitted evidence. Judge David Herriford, who presided over the entire case, denied the motion.
Megan, who did not attend the sentencing hearing, made a written statement that said, “For once, the defendant must be forced to face the full consequences of his heinous actions and face justice.”
Indeed it has been a long journey for Megan, who was at first afraid to speak the truth and then later mocked by many industry players including the likes of Drake, who implied that Megan was lying in one of his songs. Lanez himself denied any wrongdoing in his album DAYSTAR, which he released after the incident in 2020.
On Thursday, Lanez posted a statement on Instagram where he maintains his innocence saying, “I remain on the stance that I refuse to apologize for something that I did not do.”
For many, this ordeal exposed the misogyny within the music industry and in our society, with some online saying Lanez didn’t deserve the 10 years because he “only shot her foot.”
Lanez, who is a Canadian citizen, may be deported from the U.S. following the completion of his sentence.