Latest news with #KissMeThruthePhone
New York Times
11-04-2025
- New York Times
Soulja Boy Is Ordered to Pay $4 Million in Sexual Assault Case
A jury in Los Angeles found the rapper Soulja Boy liable for sexual battery and assault, ordering him to pay $4 million to a woman who said that he became violent toward her as their once-professional relationship turned romantic, the woman's lawyer said. The decision on Thursday, which was also reported by The Associated Press, came after a nearly monthlong trial, in which the woman said that she had started as the rapper's assistant. She accused him of physically and sexually assaulting her over two years. Soulja Boy — known for songs like 'Crank That (Soulja Boy),' 'Kiss Me Thru the Phone' and 'Pretty Boy Swag' — denied the claims during the trial. 'Our client is pleased with and vindicated by the verdict,' Neama Rahmani, a lawyer for the woman, whose name was not revealed in the proceedings, said in a statement. 'Yesterday's verdict is just the beginning of justice for Soulja's Boy's victims and a reckoning for the entire music industry.' Reading a statement on his phone, Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, criticized the verdict outside the Superior Court in Los Angeles County after the verdict. 'I believe this entire process has been tainted by a system that is not designed to protect the rights of the accused,' Mr. Way said. 'I want to make it clear that I am innocent.' The woman who brought the case said that she began working for Mr. Way in 2018 as his personal assistant, according to court documents. He had agreed to pay her $500 a week to live with him, she said, and provide services that included cleaning, cooking, handling his travel itinerary and doing his hair — but she said she was never paid. Shortly after she began working for Mr. Way, 34, she said she began a relationship with him that quickly became violent. In court documents, she detailed multiple instances when she said he subjected her to sexual and physical violence. She accused him of raping her, sometimes multiple times a day, and attacking her so brutally that she lost consciousness. She also said in court documents that he threatened to have her killed and that at times she was kept in a locked room, sometimes for days at a time. During her trial testimony, she said that she was barely fed, and that she lost more than half her body weight, according to Courthouse News Service. 'I didn't even feel human anymore,' she said. 'I felt like an animal.' At the trial, Mr. Way denied being violent with her, and said he never agreed to hire her as his assistant. In his closing statement, Mr. Way's lawyer, Rickey Ivie, said that the woman was offered to stay at Mr. Way's house in exchange for rolling marijuana blunts, but that pay wasn't discussed. 'She was rolling blunts,' Mr. Ivie said, according to Courthouse News Service. 'She got room and board. That's the industry standard.' The jury found Mr. Way liable for assault, sexual battery, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and nonpayment of wages, in addition to other claims. It did not find him liable for false imprisonment. The jury also awarded the woman $250,000 in punitive damages. In a statement on Friday, Mr. Ivie said that his client was preparing to challenge the verdict. 'We maintain that the evidence does not support the verdict,' Mr. Ivie said. 'It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial. Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case.' The decision came five years after Mr. Way's ex-girlfriend, Kayla Myers, accused him in a lawsuit of attacking her during a party at his home in Malibu, Calif., stomping on her stomach and hitting her in the head with a gun, according to court documents. In 2023, a jury found that he assaulted her, and ordered him to pay her $471,800. Mr. Way is also being sued for physical and sexual assault by Nia Riley, an ex-girlfriend who had appeared with him on the reality show 'Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood.' In 2021, she told the comedian Tasha K that Mr. Way kicked her in the stomach when she was pregnant, and that she later had a miscarriage.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Soulja Boy Responds to Getting Rocked With This Crazy Legal Bill in His Sexual Assault Case
Soulja Boy is speaking out following the end of his sexual assault trial in Los Angeles. And if you thought things were finally over, we regret to inform you that they're far from it. To jog your memory, back in 2021, we told you that the 'Soulja Girl' rapper was being accused by his former assistant—referred to in court documents as Jane Doe—of sexual assault and sexual battery, as well as refusing to pay her and holding her against her will. Doe alleged that the rapper would sometimes 'punch, kick and body slam' her and once threatened to kill her. She also claimed she was sexually assaulted numerous times between 2019 and 2020. Now, four years after her filing, on Friday, Doe was awarded just over $4 million in compensatory damages with possible punitive damages to be determined at a later date. However, judging by Soulja's statements, it's clear that he's not taking the ruling too well. 'Today, I stand before you deeply disappointed in the verdict delivered in my case. I firmly believe that the decision made in court was not based on facts or substantial evidence, but rather on factors that were outside of my control,' he said to press after the ruling came down. 'The truth was overshadowed by the involvement of individuals such as the jury who were not present for the events in question. And I feel that the system allowed external influences to shape the outcome.' He continued: Furthermore, the use of 'Jane Doe' as the identity of the accuser raises serious concerns about fairness. Keeping these individuals anonymous while I'm force to face public scrutiny creates an unequal playing field. I believe this entire process has been tainted by a system that is not designed to protect the rights of those accused. I want to make it clear that I'm innocent. This case was never about justice. It was about money and personal gain and I will not let that stand. I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed. The 'Kiss Me Thru the Phone' rapper concluded by saying that he maintains his stance of innocence and will fight for 'the truth to be revealed.' Additionally, lawyers for Doe also gave a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, saying: 'We're happy our client was vindicated and the jury believed her claims of physical and sexual assault. We're looking forward to moving on to the punitive damages phase of the case.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Los Angeles Times
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Marlon Wayans rips Soulja Boy for transphobic remarks against son: ‘He ain't been relevant'
For comedian Marlon Wayans, defending his son from transphobic and homophobic comments is no laughing matter. Unless it involves Soulja Boy. The 'Scary Movie' and 'White Chicks' star on Wednesday made a punchline of the 'Kiss Me Thru the Phone' rapper's career after the musician dragged Wayans family matters into a social media feud. In a series of tweets this week, Soulja Boy, also known for songs 'Crank That' and 'Pretty Boy Swag,' used slurs to criticize Wayans, his acting career and his trans son, Kai. Soulja Boy on Wednesday tweeted a screenshot of reports about Wayans' support for Kai. Seemingly referencing the 52-year-old comic disguising himself as a white woman for the 2004 comedy 'White Chicks,' the rapper wrote: 'That ... run in the family huh? @MarlonWayans no wonder u like dressing up as a b— it's in your blood.' The rapper has since deleted the offensive tweets — but not quickly enough to save himself from a Wayans clapback. 'If @souljaboy had a career he could get cancelled for this type of slander,' the 'Marlon' star tweeted Wednesday. 'Luckily he ain't been relevant since 2007.' That was the year Soulja Boy, real name DeAndre Cortez Way, broke out with his catchy hit 'Crank That (Soulja Boy)' and its accompanying dance. He continued to gain traction in the early aughts with songs 'Donk,' 'Kiss Me Thru The Phone' and 'Pretty Boy Swag.' Though his popularity has tapered off in the past decade, the 34-year-old continues to drop new music including his latest album, 'The Influence,' released last Friday. Although it's unclear how or when the Wayans-Soulja Boy feud began, Billboard reported the beef traces back to the rapper's decision to perform in January at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C., to celebrate President Trump's inauguration. Like fellow rappers Snoop Dogg and Nelly, who also performed at Trump inauguration events, Soulja Boy defended his performance, saying on Instagram that 'Trump put money in my pockets.' He also noted that the president was not at the event. Days after the inauguration, Wayans appeared on Cincinnati radio station 101.1 The Wiz, where he called for unity during the new administration and shared his two cents about the rappers who performed at the Trump celebrations. 'I mean, Soulja Boy, he been canceled. Nobody cares [about] Soulja Boy. Soulja Boy go better get that check,' Wayans said. He added: 'I don't know if they knew it was [an] underwritten Trump event.' Soulja Boy hit back at the comedian on Monday, weeks after Wayans' radio spot, tweeting 'u not funny' and he 'keep selling ur soul' amid a burst of profanity. A back-and-forth ensued with each of the performers taking jabs at the other's careers and appearances. Wayans, currently on his Wild Child comedy tour, revealed his son's transition during a November 2023 interview with 'The Breakfast Club.' At the time, he spoke about 'going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance' and praised Kai as 'brilliant' and the 'most well-read, the smartest Wayans.' He shares children Kai and Shawn with ex-girlfriend Angela Zackery. Last June, Wayans hit back against a slew of haters who decried his rainbow-adorned Instagram photos celebrating Pride. 'As a father of a child in the LGBTQ+ community I show my support. Zero f— what people think. If i lost you… GOOD!,' he wrote in a caption. Wayans will reunite with brothers Shawn Wayans and Keenen Ivory Wayans for a new chapter of their 'Scary Movie' franchise, set to hit theaters next summer. Additionally, the Wayans family will get their flowers at the 56th NAACP Image Awards later this month. The 'In Living Color' and 'My Wife and Kids' comedy dynasty will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame when the ceremony airs Feb. 22 on BET.
