Tory Lanez’s Appeal Reignites Debate Over Megan Thee Stallion Shooting

The Breakdown: On December 23, 2022, Tory Lanez was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot. It was the culmination of a legal battle that had dragged on for two long years. Now the case is back in the public eye after Lanez’s legal team appealed his conviction.

When news broke that Tory Lanez had allegedly shot Megan Thee Stallion, blogs buzzed, fans argued, and the story made headlines everywhere. The case has always been controversial. It features two of rap’s biggest stars, rumors of a secret tryst between Lanez and Megan, and accusations of lies from both parties.

The trial split the court of public opinion, with fans and celebs alike taking sides. But the courts ultimately found Lanez guilty, and the Toronto rapper was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Now, the controversy continues as Lanez’s legal team claims to have exonerating evidence and a prison stabbing has landed the rapper in a California hospital. Here’s what we know about Tory Lanez’s appeal and the events that led to this moment.

In February 2025, Tory Lanez’s legal team filed an appeal in his case, claiming that there was “erroneous admission of evidence” and “prosecutorial misconduct” that led to his conviction. His lawyers also argue that the prosecution mishandled the case by “including testimony concerning irrelevant and inadmissible matters, such as [Megan’s] feelings regarding the circumstances of the incident.”

Many of Lanez’s fans have suggested that Lanez was tried by the public and the media before a decision was reached in court. His legal team seems to echo that sentiment, critiquing how prosecutors appealed to sympathy for Megan throughout the trial.

In addition to the allegations that the trial was mishandled, representatives for Lanez have alleged that new evidence proves he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. Ceasar McDowell, the CEO of non-profit justice organization Unite the People, claimed there is a witness who can testify that Kelsey Harris, Megan’s former best friend, was the one who committed the crime.

McDowell claimed that Harris’s bodyguard came forward to say that he overheard her confess to the shooting. The legal advocate points out that this testimony aligns with the account from Sean Kelly, an eyewitness who testified during the trial that he saw two women fighting.

However, Megan’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, has dismissed these claims and the supposed evidence, asserting that Lanez already received a fair trial. “Tory Lanez was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers, and his case was properly adjudicated through the court system. This is not a political matter—this is a case of violent assault that was resolved in the court of law,” Spiro said in a statement.

The appeal is one of the latest chapters in the years-long legal battle between Megan and Lanez. The trial first began in 2022, where Megan testified that she and Lanez argued while driving away from Kylie Jenner’s party in 2020.

Megan told the court that she mocked Lanez’s music, and when he became angry, she demanded to be let out of the car. She claims that he then pulled out a handgun and opened fire, shooting her in the foot.

Initially, when police arrived on the scene, Megan told police that she had stepped on glass. She has since explained that she was afraid of getting him into trouble. She also claims that Lanez offered her $1 million to keep the details of the incident a secret.

Megan eventually accused Lanez of the shooting, resulting in his arrest and the ensuing trial. The case concluded with Lanez being found guilty of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and assault with a semiautomatic weapon.

The prosecution initially sought a 13-year sentence. But Lanez was given 10 years and remanded to California Correctional Institution.

On the morning of May 12, 2025, Lanez was rushed from prison to a public hospital after he was stabbed by a fellow inmate. Initially, details of the stabbing were scarce, but Lanez’s official Instagram account soon shared a post that revealed the rapper had been stabbed 14 times — seven times in the back, four times in his torso, twice in the back of his head, and once on the left side of his face.

The post also revealed that Lanez was initially placed on a breathing apparatus due to a collapsed lung. He has since recovered enough to breathe on his own, speak normally, and be “in good spirits.”

The suspected attacker, Santino Casio, is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, but authorities have not ascertained a clear motive for the attack. However, Lanez’s family and legal team have argued that the incident affirms the importance of his appeal.

Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, has maintained his son’s innocence throughout the trial and since his conviction. He cites the stabbing in his statement to Gavin Newsom, calling on the California Governor to pardon and release Lanez. Peterson shared that he fears his son will not survive otherwise.

There has been a great deal of sympathy for Lanez in the months after his conviction, and even more so since the stabbing, with celebrities like Drake and Chris Brown advocating for his release. Many fans have also sided with Lanez, often viciously attacking Megan online.

The “Hiss” rapper has been open about the mental and emotional impact of the incident and its aftermath. She described her experience as being “tormented and terrorized.” In court, she shared, “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace.”

According to Megan, peace remains out of reach as she alleged that Lanez continued to harass her from behind bars. In December 2024, she requested a restraining order against the incarcerated rapper. A judge granted the order, which also includes third parties acting on Lanez’s behalf, namely blogger Milagro Elizabeth Cooper (Milagro Gramz), who has been vocal in her accusations against Megan.