Rapper Megan Thee Stallion has received a wave of support in the form of a letter from influential leaders and organizations denouncing violence against women shortly after slamming Drake for seemingly accusing her of lying about getting shot in the foot.
Megan, whose real name is Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, accused rapper Tory Lanez of shooting her in 2020 after attending a pool party in Hollywood Hills, California. Lanez reportedly fired a gun at her during a disagreement, though Lanez has denied the allegation, and the court case is ongoing.
Last week, Drake and 21 Savage jointly released Her Loss, and a track on the album titled “Circo Loco” contained a lyric that seemed to allude to Megan and accuse her of lying about being shot. “This b**** lie about getting shot but she still a stallion,” Drake raps during the song.
In response, Megan wrote in a tweet, “Stop using my shooting for clout b**** a** N*****! Since when tf is it cool to joke abt women getting shot ! You n***** especially RAP N***** ARE LAME! Ready to boycott bout shoes and clothes but dog pile on a black woman when she say one of y’all homeboys abused her.”
In a follow-up tweet, she wrote, “And when the mf facts come out remember all y’all h** a** favorite rappers that stood behind a N**** that SHOT A FEMALE.”
On Thursday, a letter signed by a number of influential leaders, including congresswoman Maxine Waters, #MeToo founder Tarana Burke, Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson and others professed their support for Megan and denounced violence against women.
Addressed to Megan, the letter said, “You are larger than life in many ways; your name is in lights, your face on billboards, your songs in the history books…and this is still just the beginning of your story. In a very short amount of time, you’ve achieved success probably beyond your wildest dreams, and it seems that each day brings a new announcement about something amazing you’ve done or are preparing to do.”
“It must be said that our culture has failed you, one of its most brightly shining daughters,” the letter continued. “In July of 2020, you experienced a violation of the highest order at the hands of someone whom you considered a friend. Since then, you’ve had to endure public harassment and taunting not only from that person but from others choosing to stand with him.”
The letter continued to say, “Violence against women is still entirely too common and acceptable in our world. We make excuse after excuse to explain away even the most heinous acts, especially when the person accused is a celebrity of any sort. Being a celebrity, however, will not guarantee a woman any sympathy when she is a victim.
“Black women are also often fearful of what will happen to their assailant if they choose to involve the law–as you yourself were afraid to do–and are left unprotected by the system and the community alike. If someone as influential as you can be belittled and mocked as nothing but a liar for standing up for herself, that speaks a volume about what a woman who doesn’t have your resources or fame can expect to endure when she’s found herself in a similar position.”
“We salute you for the bravery it has taken to defend yourself in the court of public opinion, though you shouldn’t have had to do so at all. We raise our voices against those who have made light of this heinous example of violence against women and will drown them out with our demands for society to take what happens to Black women seriously. You are not alone. You are believed, loved, and supported,” the letter concluded. “We stand with you Megan.”
The letter was also signed by artist Ethel Cain, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Allisa Findley and K.C. Fox of Sisters of the Movement, Jessica Jackson and others.
Newsweek reached out to a representative for Megan Thee Stallion for additional comment.
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