Megan Thee Stallion, the 28-year-old rapper and Grammy winner, released a new victim impact statement as the sentencing for Tory Lanez, the 31-year-old rapper found guilty of assault, was delayed. The sentencing was originally scheduled for August 7, but will now resume in Los Angeles on August 8.
In the impact statement, read by Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta, Megan expressed the lasting emotional and physical impact of the shooting incident. She stated, Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace. Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same. Megan also revealed her difficulty in deciding whether to read the statement in person, explaining, I simply could not bring myself to be in a room with Tory again.
During her court testimony on December 13, 2022, Megan reportedly expressed her preference for death over enduring the courtroom ordeal, as reported by TMZ. She asked the judge not to interpret her absence as indifference and further requested a stiff sentence for Tory Lanez.
Tory Lanez was found guilty of three felonies, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. If the judge abides by the prosecutors’ requests, Lanez could face up to 13 years behind bars.
Tory Lanez’s lawyers, however, submitted a memo requesting probation and release from jail to enter a residential substance abuse program. They also plan to appeal the conviction.
The shooting incident occurred in July 2020 at Kylie Jenner’s home in the Hollywood Hills. Megan accused Tory Lanez of shooting her in the back of her feet. Rapper Iggy Azalea also issued a statement to the judge, urging them to impose a transformative, not life-destroying sentence.
Megan Thee Stallion, in her recent essay for ELLE, described the guilty verdict as a victory for all women who have experienced shame, dismissal, and blame following a violent crime committed against them. She addressed the doubt and criticism women often face and stated that while she is in a happier place, anxiety still lingers in her life.
The sentencing for Tory Lanez will resume on August 8 at 10:30 AM.
