Winchester, Ohio – Hip-hop legend Afroman recently came out victorious in a years-long legal battle for his First Amendment rights.
According to CNN, an Adams County, Ohio jury ruled on Wednesday that the rapper – whose real name is Joseph Foreman – did not defame or invade the privacy of seven sheriff’s deputies by making viral music videos out of footage from a raid of his home.
In a clip of a recent deposition, Afroman – clad in an American flag suit – argued he was simply exercising his rights.
“After they run around my house with guns and kick down my door,” Afroman said, “I got the right to kick a can in my backyard, use my freedom of speech, turn my bad times into a good time.”
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Footage from the rapper’s home surveillance cameras dated August 2022 shows a squad of deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office kicking in his door while he wasn’t home, trashing the place, and appearing to steal his cash.
The officers had a warrant regarding drug trafficking and kidnapping, but found nothing to justify charges.
Afroman then took to the internet, creating music videos using the footage and making wild songs mocking the individual officers, which led to them suing the artist.
The rapper’s diss tracks were played throughout the trial, with officers taking the stand to argue that their reputations had been damaged and their privacy invaded.
But in many instances, their arguments fell short – or at least made for countless entertaining internet clips.
In one awkward moment from the trial, Deputy Randy Walters was asked about claims Afroman made in a song about him that the rapper had sex with his wife.
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Walters surprisingly responded, “I don’t know,” and “ask your client.”
Officer Shawn Cooley claimed he suffered humiliation, emotional distress, and death threats after Afroman made a song called Lemon Pound Cake, where the musician he alleged the officer wanted to steal a slice of cake sitting on his kitchen counter during the raid.
A number of celebrities, musicians, and internet figures – such as Killer Mike, Doja Cat, Anthony Fantano, and even Andrew Tate – have taken to social media to celebrate the rapper’s victory.
