Australian rapper Iggy Azalea found herself in the middle of the ongoing legal drama involving Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion. Many critics blasted Azalea for reportedly still backing Lanez despite the Canadian musician’s guilty verdict.
In December 2022, a California jury convicted Tory Lanez (born Daystar Peterson) of assault with a semiautomatic handgun, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and gross negligence in discharging his firearm.
The highly-publicized court case stemmed from a July 2020 shooting that left Hip Hop star Megan Thee Stallion injured. Apparently, Iggy Azalea wrote one of over five dozen letters to the judge set to decide Lanez’s sentencing.
“Judge Herriford got 70+ letters of support for Tory Lanez, including one from @IggyAzalea,” posted noted courthouse reporter Meghann Cuniff on August 7. Cuniff later added, “Judge Herriford said [Iggy Azalea’s] letter asks him to impose a sentence ‘that is transformational, not life-destroying.'”
That jailer didn't talk in court, but the chaplain did. (I should be able to get the letters, but maybe not today.)
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Judge Herriford said Iggy Azalae's letter asks him to impose a sentence "that is transformational, not life destroying."
As Meghann Cuniff’s first-hand account tweets spread across the platform, social media users slammed Iggy Azalea for supposedly asking for Tory Lanez to receive a light punishment for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
In particular, many people pointed out the possible hypocrisy from Azalea because she previously made statements about violent male abusers. She publicly chastised her ex-boyfriend, Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti, for allegedly abusing women.
Iggy Azalea has now responded to the negative reactions to writing a letter to the judge on Tory Lanez’s behalf. The New Classic album creator shared a lengthy statement on the X (formerly Twitter) social media platform.
She stated:
For the record: 1. I have not been in touch with Tory for months, I have no reason to be, but I do wish him well. 2. I don’t “support” anyone. The whole thing is full of oddities. My letter never mentioned anything in regard to what happened that night. 3. I was told this was for a judge only, yet it’s being discussed in public? I never intended to publicly comment. 4. I am not in support of throwing away ANY ones life if we can give reasonable punishments that are rehabilitative instead. I support prison reform. Period. 5. I was asked to write about my genuine experience and the type of punishment I think he deserves: I did. It’s not really that interesting but I understand why it’s being sensationalized… 🤷♀️. See ya next week to discuss pizza toppings I suppose. Lol.
@IGGYAZALEA
Iggy Azalea and Tory Lanez do have a personal history. There were rumors that the two immigrants dated for a while. Plus, in October 2022, Lanez announced he would be executive producing an upcoming music project by Azalea. That proposed album has yet to come out.