“Because I Got High” Rapper Afroman Wins Defamation Lawsuit Filed By Ohio Police Over Mocking Raid Of His Home In Viral Music Videos

“Because I Got High” Rapper Afroman Wins Defamation Lawsuit Filed By Ohio Police Over Mocking Raid Of His Home In Viral Music Videos

Rapper #Afroman has come out on top in a defamation case brought by several Ohio sheriff’s deputies, who accused him of damaging their reputations through a series of viral music videos.

The lawsuit stemmed from a 2022 raid on his home, where officers were investigating suspected dr*g activity and kidnapping, but ultimately filed no charges. After the incident, Afroman used security camera footage from the raid in songs and videos that mocked the deputies, which quickly gained traction online. In one of the videos, Afroman called the officers “crooked cops” over money they allegedly stole from his home during the raid.

The deputies claimed the videos subjected them to ridicule, harassment and emotional distress, seeking $4 million in damages. In court, however, Afroman argued his work was protected speech and a form of artistic expression. His legal team emphasized that criticism of public officials, even when harsh or comedic, is protected, with one defense argument noting, “No reasonable person would expect a police officer not to be criticized.”

A jury ultimately sided with the rapper, rejecting the claims against him and affirming his First Amendment rights. Reacting to the verdict, Afroman celebrated the outcome as a win for free speech, saying, “We did it, America! … Freedom of speech!” He also maintained the situation could have been avoided altogether, adding, “This whole thing is an outrage,” and suggesting the lawsuit would not exist if the raid had never happened.