A jury in Los Angeles has ruled that rapper Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Cortez Way, is liable for sexually assaulting and physically and emotionally abusing a former personal assistant, resulting in an award of over $4 million in damages to the plaintiff. The verdict followed a three-week trial in Santa Monica, California, where jurors found Soulja Boy guilty of assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress but did not hold him responsible for false imprisonment or other accusations.
The plaintiff is to receive approximately $4 million in compensatory damages and an additional $250,000 in punitive damages. Her lawyer, Neama Rahmani, expressed that this verdict marks the beginning of justice not only for the assistant but for victims across the music industry.
In response, Soulja Boy’s lead defence attorney, Rickey Ivie, stated that the evidence presented does not support the verdict, lamenting that cultural perceptions may have influenced the outcome. Soulja Boy intends to seek post-trial remedies in hopes of reversing the decision.
Although the former assistant, who remains unnamed in the lawsuit filed in 2021, alleges various abuses following her employment with Soulja Boy, she has not been publicly identified due to privacy considerations typically observed in cases involving sexual assault claims. She began working for him in 2018, agreeing to a salary of $500 per week for various personal tasks, but asserts she was never compensated for her work.
The relationship turned abusive, with claims of rape, physical violence, and threats to her life, leading to a cycle of manipulation that kept her involved with him until 2020. The assistant alleges that even after leaving, she was assaulted when she attempted to retrieve her belongings.
Soulja Boy is widely known for his breakout 2007 single “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song. As proceedings continue, the impact of this case may resonate throughout the music industry, highlighting issues of abuse and accountability.