Canadian rapper Drake has broken his silence on the controversial incarceration of fellow artist Tory Lanez, calling for his release while showing support on social media. On Friday, May 16, the Started From the Bottom hitmaker took to Instagram Stories to demand justice and advocate for clemency.
“@torylanez come home soon,” Drake wrote in a brief yet powerful message alongside a screenshot of a Change.org petition that is urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Lanez.
The petition aims to challenge the outcome of the high-profile trial that saw Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in July 2020.
Tory Lanez’s Conviction: A Recap of the Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Case
In December 2022, Lanez was convicted on three felony charges stemming from the infamous shooting incident:
- Assault with a semiautomatic firearm
- Carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle
- Discharging a firearm with gross negligence
The charges followed a dramatic altercation in Los Angeles, during which Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, claimed Lanez shot her in the feet after an argument escalated. The case sparked widespread media attention and debate across the hip-hop community and social justice circles.
Drake Shares Petition Calling for Tory Lanez to Be Pardoned
Drake’s public show of support came shortly after Tory Lanez shared the same Change.org petition on his own Instagram profile. The petition claims that Lanez did not receive a fair trial and that new evidence now points to another potential shooter.
“Mr. Peterson was never given a fair trial, free from bias,” stated political commentator and Fox News contributor Gianno Caldwell, who has been actively advocating for Lanez’s release.
United the People Holds Press Conference, Points to Kelsey Harris
On May 14, a nonprofit organization called United the People, which advocates for justice reform and civil rights, held a press conference to spotlight alleged flaws in the prosecution’s case. The organization presented what it described as new evidence indicating that Kelsey Harris—Megan Thee Stallion’s former best friend—may have been the one who fired the shots.
Attorney Walter Roberts, speaking at the event, stated:
“Mr. Peterson never shot anybody. Never even touched the gun.”
Roberts and others argue that Lanez’s defense was unable to present crucial evidence due to alleged judicial bias and misconduct during the trial. The organization is now rallying supporters to push for clemency or a retrial based on these claims.
Celebrity Reactions Pour In
Drake’s Instagram story has reignited conversation across the internet, especially within the hip-hop and R&B communities. While some fans applauded his loyalty and willingness to speak out, others criticized him for backing Lanez amid a serious conviction involving gun violence against a woman.
Lanez’s legal team is currently preparing appeals based on the newly surfaced evidence and claims of trial misconduct. Whether the case will be reopened or if Governor Newsom will acknowledge the petition remains to be seen.
As public figures like Drake continue to lend their voices to the cause, the situation surrounding Tory Lanez’s conviction is evolving into a broader conversation about fair trials, celebrity justice, and media narratives in high-profile legal cases.
