US rapper Afroman has emerged victorious in a high-profile court case against seven sheriff’s deputies who sued him for releasing songs and videos that mocked them following a 2022 raid on his home.
The raid, conducted as part of a drug and kidnapping investigation, saw deputies break down the musician’s door—but ultimately, no charges were filed. In response, Afroman, born Joseph Foreman and best known for his 2000 hit Because I Got High, turned home security footage into viral videos poking fun at the officers.
His 2023 video for Lemon Pound Cake highlighted a deputy allegedly eyeing a cake in his kitchen, while other videos humorously exaggerated personal and sexual claims about the officers.
The deputies filed a defamation lawsuit seeking $3.9 million in damages for “humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment, and loss of reputation.” But after a three-day trial, a jury sided with the rapper.
“We did it, America! Yeah! We did it! Freedom of speech!” Afroman exclaimed outside the Ohio court, surrounded by supporters, in a social media clip following the verdict.
During the trial, he wore a red, white, and blue US flag-themed suit and argued that the raid itself was the catalyst for the controversy.
“The whole raid was a mistake,” he told the court. “If they hadn’t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit. I wouldn’t know their names, they wouldn’t be on my surveillance system, and there would be no songs—nothing.”
The deputies’ lawyer, Robert Klingler, claimed Afroman had “perpetuated lies intentionally” to harm his clients, citing incidents like Deputy Lisa Phillips being targeted in one of the rapper’s songs. Sgt. Randy Walters also testified that his child had been humiliated at school over the posts.
Afroman’s defense, led by David Osborne, argued that the rapper’s videos were protected under the First Amendment. Osborne contended that public officials could not use the courts to “silence criticism” simply because it was embarrassing.
“What chilling effect does that have on society?” Osborne asked jurors. “You don’t like what a public official does, you make a joke, and suddenly you’re dragged into court?”
The case has drawn widespread attention for its intersection of freedom of speech, public accountability, and artistic expression. Afroman’s album Lemon Pound Cake, inspired by the raid, has amassed millions of views on YouTube, highlighting the public’s appetite for his satirical take on the events.