Independent reporter in Southern California. “arguably the most influential legal journalist working today” - Washington Post | Subscribe $ to my Substack ⬇️
A jury has convicted Tory Lanez of all three charges for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. A crazy and downright scary scene in the courtroom as his father and stepmother screamed about wicks injustice.
I can easily confirm that the audio floating around of Tory Lanez’s jail call to Kelsey, the gunshots, Kelsey’s interview with prosecutors etc are authentic. Court can release exhibits after trials, and that’s what happened here. I don’t have my own copies yet but will soon.
An LA federal judge has ordered Nicki Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty, to serve "up to" 120 days on home detention for "making threatening remarks toward a specific individual while in the company of someone with a criminal record."
The individual is Offset, Cardi B's husband.
I wanted to thank everyone who's followed my coverage of the trial of Tory Lanez, now in jail for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Thank you. I will be continuing to follow all developments in the case, including Lanez's sentencing. I also will be returning to other case coverage.
A jury has convicted Tory Lanez of all three charges for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. A crazy and downright scary scene in the courtroom as his father and stepmother screamed about wicked injustice.
Cassie's lawsuit against Puff Daddy has a "trigger warning" on the front page.
"This document contains highly graphic information of a sexual nature, including sexual assault."
I gotta admit it’s a little overwhelming to see Meghann Thee Reporter trending nationally on Twitter. Thank you all so much for reading my work these last two weeks. Your support means everything to me.
Thank you thank you thank you ! Thank you GOD, Thank you MAMA HOLLY, Thank you to EVERYONEEEEE that took the time out of their week to go hard and make this happen! I love you I appreciate you I’m so grateful 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹💙💙💙💙 likeeee
#HISS
is number 1 !!! Thank you for RUNNING…
Cassie settles sex trafficking lawsuit against Diddy one day after it's filed:
Cassie: "I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support."
Diddy: "We have decided…
As typically happens after a verdict is read, defense lawyers asked for the jury to be polled, which means each juror was asked indivdually if the verdict is their verdict. The loudest "YES" came from the juror who is a Black man in his 50s or 60s. He really belted out that yes.
"I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser."
- Iggy Azalea to the judge who sentenced Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion
I got a copy of Azalea's letter and put together an article that includes the full three pages.
The same lawyers who represented Cassie in her quickly settled lawsuit against Diddy have sued him again, this time on behalf of a woman who's staying anonymous.
This complaint has a "trigger warning" on the front page, too, just like Cassie's did.
I didn’t hear it and I’m still working to see if transcript has it, but I’ve confirmed Tory Lanez chose to use his final courtroom moments to profanely insult me, calling me “a googly eyed bitch” as he looked at gallery. Conflicting reports on whether he named me.
A fitting end.
Prosecutors want Tory Lanez to be sentenced to 13 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. They describe his “campaign of misinformation” aimed at humiliating her and also cite his “unprovoked attack” of August Alsina.
I’ve got the details:
Good morning from Los Angeles, where the fifth day of Tory Lanez’s assault trial for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion is to get underway soon. We are going to hear Kelsey Harris’ 80-minute interview with prosecutors in which she identifies Tory as the shooter.
"Tina Turner walked away from the spotlight and her volatile, abusive husband in the 1970s, remade herself as a solo artist, sold more than 100 million records, won eight Grammy Awards, and became a brighter star in her 40s and 50s than she had been in her youth."
I am very honored and humbled by this
@BET
article about my experiences covering Tory Lanez’s trial for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Thank you,
@BibatheDiva
.
This is why protective custody exists.
Someone who’s been to prison three times told me, “They (CDC) will never allow that dude to walk mainline, level 4 or 3 for sure, they would kill him his first day on the yard. … Cali is stacked with hitters. No other state is like it.”
Tory Lanez was remanded on the spot, led out in handcuffs by sheriff's deputies. There were six total in the courtroom, two at door and four behind Lanez, and there was quite a scene when they tried to get Lanez's father and stepmother under control.
New tonight: Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty is asking a federal judge for permission to travel internationally for the Pink Friday 2 World tour.
He's currently on probation out of Los Angeles federal court for failing to register as a sex offender.
“At first, he tried to deny the shooting ever happened. Then he attempted to place the blame on my former best friend. In his tantrum of lies, he’s blamed the system. Blamed the press.”
Here’s the full statement Megan
@TheeStallion
wrote for the judge who sentenced Tory Lanez:
“I know who shot me. I said who shot me, and that’s why the f*ck you in jail.”
Megan’s live today is the most I’ve heard her discuss the case and her situation since her testimony. I’ll cover this in my article.
“One more thing before I go…”
(Spoiler: It was more than one.)
Tory Lanez WILL NOT get a new trial for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. This is according to Judge David Herriford, who ruled from the bench a few minutes ago.
2+ weeks since Tory Lanez's lawyer Jose Baez said he'd file a motion to bail Lanez out of jail as he appeals his convictions and 10-year prison sentence. No motion has been filed, and I'm not sure how much of a priority it is for Baez: He's posting Instagram stories from Italy.
Tory Lanez is officially in state prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. He left the jail in Los Angeles yesterday for the North Kern State Prison, about 35 miles north of Bakersfield.
I've got the full transcript form his sentencing hearing inside.
🤦🏽♀️I think
#torylanez
using this animation for
@meghanncuniff
is total DISRESPECT!!! if I were her I would SUE!!! How can you be mad cause she did her JOB unbiased and professional u nean she didn’t put the gun in your hand to
#shoot
#MeganTheeStallion
Regarding what Vanessa Bryant’s done with her money since Kobe died, let’s not forget she funded a lawsuit that fully exposed the disgusting actions and lies of
@LASDHQ
regarding the photos taken of human remains. There was so much perjury in that trial I almost fell over.
The news is out: I am excited to bring my legal affairs reporting and trial coverage to
@LAmag
. This next phase of my career will involve much more video reporting, with a YouTube channel on its way and plans for live streams and videos from court and my office. 🚀
I am thrilled to welcome
@meghanncuniff
aka “Meghann Thee Reporter” Cuniff to Los Angeles Magazine as we continue to expand since our acquisition last month. Like all her stories, Meghann’s coverage of the Tory Lanez criminal trial was the best in the biz. Welcome Meghann!
I try not to think about work when I watch
@Jeopardy
. I didn’t succeed tonight.
“Her 2021 album “Something for Thee Hotties” is a compilation of her freestyles and some previously unreleased songs.”
@theestallion
#MeganTheeStallion
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis wrote letters to the judge who sentenced Danny Masterson for rape. So did the people who portrayed Red and Kitty Forman on "That '70s Show."
Also, Billy Baldwin.
Full story:
I just got off the phone with DJ Envy's lawyer, Massimo D'Angelo, who says Envy is one of Cesar Pina's Ponzi scheme victims.
"Obviously, Envy is going to be assisting and cooperating fully" to get not only his money back, but money back for the other victims.
And here comes the massive federal criminal investigation into Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Was really only a matter of time.
"Some media reports indicated federal agents were also at a home in Miami associated with Combs."
Tory Lanez is officially headed to prison.
"The motion will be denied and proceedings concluded. Thank you," Judge Herriford said.
Lanez grinned at his supporters, including his father and friends from the Unite the People legal services group, before being led out.
Good morning from Los Angeles, where jurors are continuing to deliberate in Tory Lanez’s assault trial over the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Will they reach a verdict today? I’m at the courthouse and will be posting updates here. 🧵
Tory Lanez, legal name Daystar Peterson, is now listed as in inmate in the Los Angeles County jail system. He was handcuffed in the courtroom after the jury verdict was read and led away by deputies. Guilty on all three charges for the 2020 shooting of Megan
@TheeStallion
.
Rapper Tory Lanez’s sentencing for shooting Megan Thee Stallion has been rescheduled from Jan. 27 to Feb. 28 as his new lawyers prepare to ask the judge to grant him a new trial. This was finalized in court a few minutes ago.
Megan said mercy is for people who show remorse, and Lanez has shown none. She thanked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for their support. She wants the sentence to be a message for everyone woman of violence.
Cardi B (
@iamcardib
) arrives at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California, for the first day of trial in a lawsuit over the cover of her first album, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1. Opening statements are expected today. Follow this thread for updates from the courtroom.🧵
A few people asked me about the bankruptcy judge’s ruling on the $4 million judgment against YouTuber Tasha K for defaming rapper Cardi B.
Here it is.
It confirms Tasha can’t discharge her debt to Cardi in bankruptcy. She’s on the hook for it and will stay on the hook for it.
Tory Lanez’s father stood up guest and screamed. “This is a wicked system!” He screamed at the prosecutors that they are evil and they know exactly what they did here. His stepmother stood up screaming and yelling. Father was yelling about “Roc Nation.”
Jury finds Danny Masterson GUILTY of two counts of rape. Masterson sits stone faced at defense table. Family members in audience fighting back tears. Bijou starts crying. "Can you maintain your composure? I know it's hard. But if not I need you to step outside," judge tells her.
I did not expect so many places to cite me when I posted that house arrest order for Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty. I’m unsure when the last time a Central District of California court order like that got 17 million views on Twitter, but the interest in this is huge.
Also notable: Probation officer and judge did not need an outside report/complaint to act on this.
@OffsetYRN
and
@iamcardib
didn’t even seem to care - Offset LOL’d about it in a video as he walked off a jet, I think while going to say hey to Deion Sanders at the Colorado game.
Today in the Young Thug trial:
“Do you know who Serena Williams is?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you seen her at Wimbledon doing what’s called the Crip Walk. Do you know what Crip Walk is, first of all?”
“Um, I don’t really watch tennis.”
“What you will not hear any evidence of is that the defendants were not involved in a criminal street gang.”
My jaw actually dropped when the DA said this in her opening in the Young Thug trial. This is the kind of burden shifting that leads to convictions being overturned.
I was happy to speak with
@GQMagazine
about my reporting career and experiences covering Tory Lanez’s trial for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
“I really want to keep out in the field, covering stuff in court, and be the eyes and ears for people.”
I am proud to say I was profiled by the
@WashingtonPost
. A reporter spent a few days with me in court and at my home.
Online now and in print soon:
“The rise of ‘Meghann Thee Reporter,’ the Internet’s favorite court insider.”
I just watched Cesar Pina's live. It's incredible that he blabbed like that.
"I am surprised by the amount of people that are on this live right now."
Like, say, the feds who are bringing felony charges against you that could put you in prison for at least several years?
Just in time for the weekend:
Along w/ Iggy Azalea, celebrities writing to Tory Lanez's sentencing judge for shooting Megan Thee Stallion include Stefflon Don, who lauded the cultural contributions of their 2018 "Senseless" remix.
All letters inside:
Just in time for your last-minute stocking stuffer needs, I've created printable PDFs of each of my threads from Tory Lanez's trial for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. All photos and video are inside, as well as links to every article.
The man who sued Cardi B over her Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1 cover art has finally accepted his loss. He’s going to pay Cardi $350K and go away. It won’t cover all her costs, but as my article explains, it ends a case that’s long been a source of annoyance
Danny Masterson was one of the biggest stars on TV when he played Steven Hyde on "That '70s Show" from 1998 to 2006.
Today, he'll be sentenced for raping two women in 2003. I've got a seat in the courtroom, which is filling up quickly. His family just walked in.
LA District Attorney's Office press release on Tory Lanez guilty verdict.
"Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed."
Wow. Huge blunder by Jonathan Majors’ attorney in her cross of Grace Jabbari. She made it so texts that Majors sent Jabbari months earlier imploring her not to go to the hospital for a head injury “even if you do lie” could be entered as evidence.
Jonathan Majors dissuaded ex from going to doctor, unsealed texts show.
@CourthouseNews
The Marvel star told his then-girlfriend that going to see a doctor "will lead to an investigation" even if she made up a cover story for her injuries.
I'd say this recording from Kelsey is even worse. There was really no way this was going to ever be played for the jury in full, if Tory's lawyer hadn't hounded her in cross about changing her story to fit prosecutors' case.
I’ve seen your tweets: Young Thug’s RICO trial opens tomorrow. Yes, I plan to watch opening statements and we can talk about it on my YouTube.
Young Thug is represented by Atlanta-based lawyer Brian Steel. Their attorney-client relationship includes this handshake.
We cannot tweet inside the courtroom. It could take a good 20 minutes at least from the time we go in to when we’re able to get out. I will share the verdict in a separate tweet to trigger your notifications, then I’ll update this thread.
A woman who sued Nicki Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty, over Petty attempting to rape her in 1994 amended her complaint today to include evidence from original case.
Nicki is no longer a defendant, but claims against Petty are proceeding and Nicki is prominently mentioned.
Is there a word for music fans who 100 percent believe all the gossip and "rap beef" drama and engage with it like it's super serious news?
Like how in professional wrestling they're called marks?
“He lied to anyone that would listen and paid bloggers to disseminate false information about the case on social media. He released music videos and songs to damage my character and continue his crusade.”
- Megan
@TheeStallion
’s written statement at Tory Lanez’s sentencing
Good morning from Los Angeles, where a jury could reach a verdict today in Tory Lanez’s trial for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. I’m at the courthouse and will be updating this thread throughout the day. 🧵
I’m honored to say my Twitter coverage of Tory Lanez’s trial for shooting Megan Thee Stallion is a finalist for
@LAPressClub
’s “best use of social media” award, along with another Twitter thread I did about how horrific some federal judges can be. Big congrats to all nominees!
Good morning from Los Angeles, where Tory Lanez is to be sentenced for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Prosecutors are asking for 13 years and citing Lanez’s lack of remorse, while Lanez is asking for probation and proclaiming his innocence. Stay tuned for updates from court.
Tory was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom by deputies, wearing his powder pink pants, white turtleneck and longish jacket. There were young children seated with Tory’s family in the gallery. One girl who appeared about 8 was crying as Tory’s stepmother hugged her.
Just in: The California Court of Appeal is NOT letting Tory Lanez out of prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. His motion for bail pending appeal has been rejected.
"Appellant has not shown that the superior court unjustifiably denied relief."
I’m here at the courthouse for the fourth day of rapper Tory Lanez’s criminal trial for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Testimony is to get underway about 10:30 am, with Megan’s former friend Kelsey Harris back on the stand.
Good morning from Los Angeles, where I’m here for the sixth day of testimony in rapper Tory Lanez’s criminal assault trial for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion in the Hollywood Hills. Follow this 🧵 for updates from the courthouse.
"That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson is serving 30 years to life for raping two women, and 10 firearms he was supposed to relinquish are missing.
What does it mean?
His lawyer told a judge this morning that one gun was destroyed years ago. The others? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Someone told me I should get a Googly Eyed Bitch logo and sell merchandise. OK!
Now taking pre-orders! (The GEB coffee mug is a hit so far.)
Claim a shirt today:
“At first, he tried to deny the shooting ever happened. Then, he attempted to place the blame on my former best friend. In his tantrum of lies, he’s blamed the system, blamed the press and, as of late, he’s using his childhood trauma to shield himself and avoid culpability.”
Here is Iggy Azalea's full letter to Tory Lanez's sentencing judge.
I have the other 75 letters written for Lanez's sentencing and will be live on YouTube at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST to discuss:
The same lawyers who represented Cassie in her (quickly settled) lawsuit against Diddy are suing Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine for sexual harassment and abuse.
Doug Wigdor's firm filed this notice of summons in New York state court today. No complaint yet.
Important: Judge Herriford said he believes Lanez’s actions after the shooting, the social media posts and harassment of Megan, are a major aggravating factor in his sentence. He says he won’t consider lack of remorse, but he says considering the post-shooting actions are similar
Difficult not to agree with this:
“The reason so much of the news media sucks is they aren’t writing for you. They’re writing for their sources in Washington, for the industries they cover, for rich people, and for fancy awards committees.”
One woman in the gallery held up her hand as Tory's father was screaming about Roc Nation and wicked injustice, repeating "In the name of Jesus!" Deputies were forcing them all out into the hallway and telling the gallery we had to stay seated.
“No one is buying that merch ho”
I’ve had a hater or two in the DMs, but overall the response to my Googly Eyed B!tch store is tremendously positive.
The coffee mug is the most popular item. Claim yours today:
The kids at my regular coffee shop this morning were shocked when I told them it is indisputable that Megan Thee Stallion was shot. That’s how weird and wrong some of the coverage of this has been.
Update: Judge Wright was not persuaded to release Alexander Smirnov.
“There is nothing garden variety about this case.”
“The man will be remanded pending trial. Deputies!”
R & B singer Mario also wrote a letter to the judge ahead of Tory Lanez being sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
"I have never seen Tory act out of character in a manner to hurt someone."
- Mario Barrett
This after sites like
@NoJumper
posted video that shows some of the jurors and wrote, "Fans on Social Media Are Already Identifying Jury Members in Young Thug's Trial After Cameras Accidentally Revealed Their Faces."
The 30-minute old post already has 4,300 likes.
Here are the surveillance videos of the alleged shooting by A$AP Rocky. The judge agreed today they don't show actual shooting but you can hear gunshots.
I am going through a massive amount of video footage right now that I will be sharing tonight/tomorrow.
“I am not comfortable advancing the ‘Kelsie Defense’ , primarily because I don’t find it to be a viable strategy.”
- Tory Lanez’s 1st lawyer before his trial for shooting Megan Thee Stallion
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