Kanye West has once again ignited controversy—this time by publicly supporting Tory Lanez, who is currently serving a prison sentence in connection with the 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
Amid shocking reports that Lanez was allegedly stabbed 14 times in prison and suffered collapsed lungs, West reached out to fellow Canadian rapper Top5, asking:
“What can I do about Tory?”
Top5 took to Instagram Stories to reveal the private message exchange and urged the ‘Donda’ rapper to help amplify a growing petition for Lanez’s release, saying:
“The petition is at 124k signatures. We need you [to] post Tory Lanez petition for his release. The man is going through a lot. He’s on his deathbed… This tweet will help a Black innocent man see his kids again.”
The plea from Top5 arrives as Lanez’s legal team claims they’ve discovered new evidence, alleging that Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, did not fire the gun that injured Megan Thee Stallion.
“In essence, Mr. Peterson never shot anybody. Never even touched that gun. He never even fired the gun,” said his attorney Walter Roberts in a statement to media outlets.
Although the evidence has not yet been formally submitted to the court, Kanye West’s vocal support may reignite public debate over the case, especially amid growing concerns about Lanez’s safety behind bars.
Lanez was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault with a semiautomatic firearm, among other charges, related to the shooting incident.
With Kanye’s involvement and the viral momentum of the release petition, the spotlight has once again turned to one of hip-hop’s most polarizing legal sagas.
