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mahatmakanejeeves

(69,507 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 07:51 PM Wednesday

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

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.

{snip}
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Afroman Wins Verdict Rejecting Lawsuit Filed by Ohio Cops Over Mocking Music Videos (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Wednesday OP
Great victory yankee87 Wednesday #1
I find it hard to have any sympathy for the law enforcement involved. Gore1FL Wednesday #2
So glad to hear this. I remember the videos, had forgotten about it. enough Wednesday #3
The police rival *rump rustbeltvoice Wednesday #4
Good news! 2naSalit Wednesday #5
Ok. I wrote about the Afroman trial, including this incredible image of him being sworn in on the witness stand. mahatmakanejeeves 21 hrs ago #6

Gore1FL

(22,941 posts)
2. I find it hard to have any sympathy for the law enforcement involved.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 08:00 PM
Wednesday

They started it. They escalated it after he responded with his first batch of videos. He proved to be more effective at one-upping them at every step.

I look forward to his post-trial songs

mahatmakanejeeves

(69,507 posts)
6. Ok. I wrote about the Afroman trial, including this incredible image of him being sworn in on the witness stand.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 11:35 AM
21 hrs ago
Mike Masnick
‪@masnick.com‬

Ok. I wrote about the Afroman trial, including this incredible image of him being sworn in on the witness stand.

Afroman with his right hand raised being sworn in as a witness in his trial wearing a kick ass suit made up of a bunch of American flags sewn together and a matching American Flag tie.
ALT

‪Techdirt‬
‪@techdirt.com‬
· 17h
Afroman’s Defamation Trial Is Going About As Well For The Deputies As Their Original Raid Did

We've been following the saga of Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) and the Adams County Sheriff's Office for a few years now, and I'm delighted to report that the defamation trial is currently underway…
Afroman’s Defamation Trial Is Going About As Well For The Deputies As Their Original Raid Did
We've been following the saga of Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) and the Adams County Sheriff's Office for a few years now, and I'm delighted to report that the defamation trial is currently underway and it is delivering everything you could possibly hope for, starting with this absolutely astounding suit that he's wearing in court and on the stand (as well as in…
www.techdirt.com
5:55 PM · Mar 18, 2026

Ok. I wrote about the Afroman trial, including this incredible image of him being sworn in on the witness stand.

Mike Masnick (@masnick.com) 2026-03-18T21:55:46.271Z


Techdirt
‪@techdirt.com‬

Afroman’s Defamation Trial Is Going About As Well For The Deputies As Their Original Raid Did

We've been following the saga of Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) and the Adams County Sheriff's Office for a few years now, and I'm delighted to report that the defamation trial is currently underway…
Afroman’s Defamation Trial Is Going About As Well For The Deputies As Their Original Raid Did
We've been following the saga of Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) and the Adams County Sheriff's Office for a few years now, and I'm delighted to report that the defamation trial is currently underway and it is delivering everything you could possibly hope for, starting with this absolutely astounding suit that he's wearing in court and on the stand (as well as in…
www.techdirt.com
5:52 PM · Mar 18, 2026

Afroman’s Defamation Trial Is Going About As Well For The Deputies As Their Original Raid Did

We've been following the saga of Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) and the Adams County Sheriff's Office for a few years now, and I'm delighted to report that the defamation trial is currently underway…

Techdirt (@techdirt.com) 2026-03-18T21:52:10Z


Protik Islam-Jakobsson
‪@protik.bsky.social‬

This album is gonna be one for the ages



RANDY WALTERS IS A SON OF A BITCH
YouTube video by ogafroman
www.youtube.com
6:36 PM · Mar 18, 2026

This album is gonna be one for the ages

Protik Islam-Jakobsson (@protik.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T22:36:20.686Z
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