After a three-week trial in Santa Monica, California, rapper Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was found liable for sexually assaulting and physically and emotionally abusing his former assistant. The Los Angeles County jurors awarded the woman $4 million in damages for assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The trial will now move to a second phase for possible punitive damages, which could result in a larger award.
The woman, who began working for Soulja Boy in 2018, alleged that he failed to pay her and then began physically and sexually abusing her after they entered into a romantic relationship. Despite this, she stayed with him until 2020 due to manipulation and threats of violence. She was even beaten and raped again when she returned to retrieve her belongings after leaving him.
Soulja Boy has denied the allegations and his lead defense attorney, Rickey Ivie, has chosen not to comment until the verdict is finalized. However, the plaintiff’s attorney, Neama Rahmani, called the verdict the beginning of justice for the victims of Soulja Boy and potentially other victims in the music industry.
The Chicago hip-hop artist is best known for his 2007 hit single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap song. The woman who brought the lawsuit remains anonymous as is typical for cases of sexual abuse.
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