In a recent interview with Elle, renowned rapper Megan Thee Stallion delved into the aftermath of Tory Lanez’s guilty verdict. Lanez was convicted of shooting Megan in the feet in 2020. It’s the first time the rapper has openly discussed her thoughts on Lanez’s conviction since she testified against him during his trial last year.
Speaking about her struggle to come to terms with the highly-publicized attack and subsequent ridicule from Lanez’s fans and fellow musicians, Megan expressed her reluctance to view herself as a victim. “I don’t want to call myself a victim,” she claimed. “As I reflect on the past three years, I view myself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable.”
Megan Thee Stallion criticized those who “treated [her] trauma like a running joke,” describing the conspiracy theories surrounding her shooting, the false narratives that her former best friend shot her, and the memes, jokes, and sneak disses from her peers in the music industry. She decried the individuals who ignored the gravity of her situation and attempted to justify her attacker’s actions, rather than condemning violence against women.
The Grammy winner admitted that dealing with the situation in such a public way made her enter a dark period in her head as she struggled to make music and struggled with finding her own values. “The truth is that I started falling into a depression. I didn’t feel like making music. I was in such a low place that I didn’t even know what I wanted to rap about. I wondered if people even cared anymore,” she lamented.
However, Megan expressed her belief that the truth would ultimately triumph over false narratives and misinformation. After Lanez was found guilty of assault with a weapon, negligent possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm, the rapper felt a sense of vindication that went beyond her personal experience. “It was more than just vindication for me, it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them,” she declared.
While Megan recognized the significance of Lanez’s conviction, she was quick to note that not all women receive the justice they deserve. She empathized with women around the world who suffer in silence, especially those who don’t conform to traditional ideas of what a victim “should” look like. “So many times, people looked at me and thought, ‘You look strong. You’re outspoken. You’re tall. You don’t look like somebody who needs to be saved.’ They assumed that, per preconceived stigmas, ‘I didn’t fit the profile of a victim,’ and that I didn’t need support or protection,” she recounted.
As Megan tries to heal from the trauma of her experience, she has decided to refrain from discussing the trial or Lanez in the media. “My purpose is for these words to serve as the final time that I’ll address anything regarding this case in the press,” she declared. “I’m choosing to change the narrative because I’m more than just my trauma.”
While Lanez’s sentencing was delayed due to his lawyers’ request for a new trial, Megan’s words serve as a powerful reminder that the fight for justice and accountability must continue. Her personal story reminds us that the impact of trauma and assault can be profound, and that those who survive such experiences deserve respect, support, and healing.
