Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years for the shooting Megan Thee Stallion outside of a house party in July 2020.
With that said some of the moving parts behind that conviction are now being made public including letters written in support of Tory.
Legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff shared that Judge Herriford had several dozens of letters including one from rapper Iggy Azalea, which caught many people off guard.
When news broke that Iggy had in fact written a letter, she defended herself saying she had no idea her note would have been made public and that she remained neutral.
The letter has now been made public.
According to Vibe in the legal document, she proclaimed that the Sorry 4 What artist is not an abuser, and that she’s a victim of abuse herself.
“I must make note of the things [I’ve] suffered through so that you understand definitively: I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser.”
“I deeply appreciate the person he is and have never witnessed him [lose] his temper or raise his voice at a woman,” she added. “He’s always been incredibly respectful of me and I refuse to believe that he would do anything in malice especially to a woman.”
Starting off with a rundown of her own accomplishments and accolades, Azalea told the judge that she has been:
“a successful musician for the last decade” and said that she’s sold “over 65 million records” with “number 1 hits on the billboard hot 100,” that have “broken records previously held by The Beatles.”
She added:
“My music has been nominated for 6 Grammys and I have a multitude of other musical awards. Throughout my career I’ve toured with some of the biggest acts in music: from Beyoncé to Pitbull. I’ve also collaborated with everyone from Britney Spears to Jenifer Lopez,” Azalea said.
Azalea then compared her status to the presiding judge’s, stating,
“like yourself, I’m great at what I do and am well respected by my peers.” She also pleaded with the judge to grant him “any leniency” that would be “transformational” and not “life destroying.”
The Australian rapper’s letter was reportedly written on Feb. 22 and received along with 75 other submissions on behalf of the “Say It” crooner. However, after learning that her letter would become public knowledge, Azalea took to social media to say that she was told her words would only be seen by the judge. “I never intended to publicly comment,” she wrote.
However, it is important to note that throughout her character letter, she did not mention Megan Thee Stallion or the incident that took place that night. She did add that, the music business
“is not designed to empower Artists – especially not women,” and that she’s “spent my entire career battling sexism and bad behavior behind the curtains.”
Azalea went on to mention that if Lanez is to be deported, she has already lined up work for him as an executive producer on her next album. She also revealed that she’s hired six of his staff members as she’s, “doing all I can to make sure he’s in a position to come home and get back to work.”
Pleading, she wrote,
“I hope you’ll consider a sentence that allows for this to be transformational and not life destroying. Not only for Daystar – but for his family, son, and the countless others who depend on him & are committed to helping him reach his full potential.”
The Letter
After a hearing that lasted two days, the judge sentenced Lanez to 10 years in prison on Tuesday (Aug. 8) afternoon. Judge Herriford stated that Lanez’s harassment of Megan, including online and through his music, was a “a major factor in aggravation in this case.”
Twitter Reaction
Twitter users are not pleased that the “Fancy” rapper choose to voice her support for Lanez. “Iggy Azalea is a disgusting person,” one user wrote. “F**k her & those other people who rallied behind this nasty man. This is so disgusting. & I can’t wait to see the list of supporters when they’re available. This culture LOVES enabling & supporting abusers.”
Another user pulled up a screenshot of Azalea defending Lanez on Twitter back in 2022. “He hasn’t been convicted of anything my guy and you aren’t going to bully me into anything. Go touch grass,” she wrote at the time.
“I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser.”
– Iggy Azalea to the judge who sentenced Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee StallionI got a copy of Azalea’s letter and put together an article that includes the full three pages.https://t.co/myuPUQatCh
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 10, 2023
and
Iggy Azalea’s 8/7 post: For the record, I have not been in touch..I don’t “support” anyone.
Letter to Tory Lanez’s sentencing judge: In fact – I already hired him for the job prior to his conviction! I guarantee to you he has significant income and work awaiting him upon release pic.twitter.com/qP2qj3BZBC
— Dr. Tee Kay (@bey_category) August 10, 2023
and
Meghann Cuniff while everyone drags Iggy Azalea by her scalp after releasing Iggy’s letter of support for Tory:pic.twitter.com/dD1FqzZLyn
— Rachel. (@_loveRachel_) August 10, 2023
and
This is like if I said “Playboi Carti never beat me so he couldn’t have done anything to Iggy Azalea.” THAT IS HOW INSANE THAT SOUNDS.
As a woman you sound INSANE invalidating the experience of another woman because a man hasn’t raped/abused/murdered every woman he’s EVER met
— Gabrielle A. Perry, MPH (@GeauxGabrielle) August 10, 2023
and
Iggy Azalea: I’m neutral.
Meghan thee journalist Cuniff: Bitch, the hell you motherfuckin’ say… pic.twitter.com/xhItmSQaG0
— [kie.ran] (@danblackroyd) August 10, 2023
and
“my name is iggy azalea and i’ve been a successful musician for the last decade” why did she tell TWO lies in the first sentence to the judge ?? pic.twitter.com/q1DBXtS0oY
— JEALOUSY ? (@BardiGanggBitch) August 10, 2023
and
Iggy Azalea is a very dangerous human being. It’s not enough this Australian white woman has decided to cosplay as a black American woman as her career choice, she is protecting a man who is out here being violent towards black women on top? That letter is foul, she’s foul.
— Goddess of BLACK. (@xm_muva) August 10, 2023
and
Iggy Azalea’s 8/7 post: For the record, I have not been in touch..I don’t “support” anyone.
Letter to Tory Lanez’s sentencing judge: In fact – I already hired him for the job prior to his conviction! I guarantee to you he has significant income and work awaiting him upon release pic.twitter.com/qP2qj3BZBC
— Dr. Tee Kay (@bey_category) August 10, 2023
What did you all think about Iggy’s letter?
Comment below!
