US rapper Afroman cleared after police sued him over raid footage

US rapper Afroman cleared after police sued him over raid footage — Culture | The Guardian
Source: Culture | The Guardian

Chart-topping US rapper Afroman has been cleared after Ohio police sued him for defamation, emotional distress and invasion of privacy over videos that used footage of a 2022 raid on his home. Officers searched the house for drugs, trafficking and kidnapping; no evidence was found and no charges were filed.

His wife filmed the raid on her phone and home security cameras also recorded it. Afroman used that footage in videos that taunted the officers and the judge, accused them of damaging his property and said $400 had been taken. The clips referred to the officers as being from "Adams KKKounty" and made coarse jokes, including questioning the gender and sexuality of a female officer.

The video for the song Lemon Pound Cake has been viewed 3.5m times on YouTube. The lawsuit said the videos invaded the officers' privacy and were "willful, wanton, malicious", and that the seven deputies suffered humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation.

United States, Ohio

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