Is the US justice system ‘making an example’ of Tory Lanez?

Back in 2014, rapper Bobby Shmurda was arrested on charges related to conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, and drug trafficking. He eventually accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Female rapper Remy Ma was sent to trial in 2008 for assault charges after a shooting incident involving another woman. She was convicted of assault, illegal weapon possession, and tampering with evidence. She served six years in prison.

Meanwhile, rapper Young Thug has been in jail for over a year, arrested on gang-related charges and accusations of violating the RICO act. His trial continues, but he is predicted to face between 5-10 years in prison if he accepts a plea deal.

At face value, all of these high-profile celebrities have received similar prison sentences to Tory Lanez, despite the discrepancies of their crimes. Based on this caveat alone, it may be easy to sense a pattern in how harshly celebrities are charged.

However, it’s important to note that legal outcomes often vary based on the specifics of the case, as well as the prosecutor’s strategy, the defendant’s criminal history, and various other factors.

The case of Lanez vs Megan was particularly complex, due to the fact that it was widely publicised and fuelled by speculation from the start. It’s also worth noting that Lanez had suspected he would receive a harsh sentence, due to his previous convictions. This led him to bribe Megan and other witnesses.

with their storiesMeanwhile, fans and other artists in the music industry dragged Megan’s name and character through the mud throughout the trial. She was subjected to online abuse and was called a liar for speaking publicly about the shooting. She also became the butt of lyrical jokes in numerous rap songs to follow.

For example, ‘This bitch lie about getting shots, but she still a stallion / She don’t even get the joke, but she still smiling,’ raps Drake in his song Circo Loco.

Nicki Minaj had musically collaborated with Megan in the past, but still decided to poke fun at Tory shouting ‘dance bitch!’ while shooting her, rapping ‘That .40 cal ah make ‘em dance like a go-go’ on her latest solo track Red Ruby da Sleaze.

The psychological impact of being in the spotlight while healing from the trauma of being shot – let alone by someone you considered a friend – is evident. Megan has largely stayed under the radar for the last three years, only posting online to promote her work or update fans on her well-being.

Writing in an op-ed for the New York Times, Megan discusses the prevalence of physical violence and misogyny against Black women. She sheds light on her own experience, writing:

‘Even as a victim, I have been met with scepticism and judgment. The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether I played a role in my own violent assault proves that my fears about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, warranted.’

Megan also affirms her stance, saying she will always stand up for women – especially victims of violent assault – and calls for better protection for Black women and for society to believe them when they come forward with their stories.

In the end, Lanez was convicted of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

In a news conference after the sentencing, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascó said, ‘I hope that Miss Pete’s [Megan’s] bravery gives hope to those who feel helpless.’

Considering how the events unfolded on top of Tory’s previous convictions and the fact that he tried to cover the entire situation up, it is likely that most people will see his sentence as fair. And yes, perhaps even as an example.

One that says committing violence against any woman is wrong and will finally be taken seriously.