Drake urges pardon for Tory Lanez after brutal prison stabbing
Rapper Drake is calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Tory Lanez after the rapper was brutally stabbed 14 times in prison.
Drake posted the petition to his Instagram story with the message, 'Come home soon,' urging fans to sign the petition hosted on Change.org, which has already garnered over 270,000 signatures.
Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is currently serving a 10-year sentence for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. Last week, Lanez was attacked by inmate Santino Casio at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. Casio, a convicted killer serving a life sentence, reportedly stabbed Lanez in the back, torso, head, and face, causing both of his lungs to collapse.
According to a post on Lanez's Instagram, the rapper was temporarily placed on a breathing apparatus but is now breathing independently and said to be in good spirits.
The Change.org petition shared by Drake was launched by the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety. It questions the credibility of witness testimonies and evidence used in Lanez's trial and calls for a full pardon.
The shooting case remains highly controversial, with several artists including 50 Cent and Iggy Azalea having previously voiced support for Lanez. Drake's earlier lyrics also appeared to cast doubt on Megan Thee Stallion's version of events.
Governor Newsom has yet to issue any statement regarding the petition or the prison incident. Meanwhile, Lanez has teased a new prison-recorded album titled Peterson.
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