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Civil Liberties

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mahatmakanejeeves

(69,563 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 07:51 PM Wednesday

Afroman Wins Verdict Rejecting Lawsuit Filed by Ohio Cops Over Mocking Music Videos [View all]

Reposted by Lemon Pound Cake Hat
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

Maine's Black Lawyer
‪@lutherevers.bsky.social‬

Afroman found not liable.

A complete victory for the rapper and a massive unforced error from the cops and their attorney.

https://www.billboard.com/pro/afroman-trial-verdict-rapper-wins-lawsuit-cops-music-videos/

Afroman Wins Verdict Rejecting Lawsuit Filed by Ohio Cops Over Mocking Music Videos
Afroman won a jury verdict rejecting a lawsuit from police officers who claim the rapper defamed them by mocking them in social media music videos.
www.billboard.com
6:55 PM · Mar 18, 2026

Afroman found not liable.

A complete victory for the rapper and a massive unforced error from the cops and their attorney.

www.billboard.com/pro/afroman-...

Maine's Black Lawyer (@lutherevers.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T22:55:44.099Z


Legal News
3/18/2026

Afroman Wins Verdict Rejecting Lawsuit Filed by Ohio Cops Over Mocking Music Videos

Police officers raided the "Because I Got High" rapper's Ohio home, then sued him after he ridiculed them on social media — but a jury just sided with Afroman.

By Bill Donahue


Tommy Chong and Afroman attend the 2019 Daytime Beauty Awards at The Taglyan Complex on September 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

Afroman won a jury verdict Wednesday (March 18) clearing him of wrongdoing in a lawsuit filed by seven Ohio police officers, who claimed the rapper defamed them by releasing music videos that mocked them after a failed raid on his home.

The verdict came in an unusual lawsuit filed by members of an Ohio county sheriff’s department over songs and social media posts by Afroman (Joseph Foreman) that harshly criticized the guns-drawn 2022 raid on his property, which yielded no charges.

The case claimed the videos were false and caused the officers severe emotional distress. But Afroman, known for his 2000 hit “Because I Got High,” testified at trial that he had a First Amendment right to mock the officers, particularly after they smashed down his door for ultimately no reason: “All of this is their fault, and they have the audacity to sue me.”

After just hours of deliberation on Wednesday, the jury sided entirely with Afroman, clearing him of liability for defamation or invasion of privacy: “In all circumstances, the jury finds in favor of the defendant,” Judge Jonathan Hein said, speaking to the rapper, the accusers, and their lawyers. Afroman briefly bowed his head, but otherwise showed no emotion after the verdict was read.

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