Afroman found not liable in defamation case brought by Ohio cops who raided home

Source: Hacker News

Verdict

A jury found on Wednesday that Afroman did not defame Ohio police officers in his satirical music video that featured footage of their fruitless raid on his home. After the verdict, the 51‑year‑old “Because I Got High” rapper, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, raised his hands in triumph and hugged people in the courtroom.

Background

In August 2022, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted a drug search at Foreman’s house. The raid resulted in no criminal charges and caused property damage. To raise money for the repairs, Foreman created the satirical song “Lemon Pound Cake” and a music video that incorporated real footage from his home surveillance cameras showing the officers busting down his door.

Lawsuit

Seven deputies from the sheriff’s office sued Foreman in March 2023, alleging that the video:

• Defamed them
• Invaded their constitutional privacy
• Caused intentional infliction of emotional distress

The lawsuit also claimed that after releasing the video, Foreman continued posting on social media, naming the officers and making false statements such as:

• The officers “stole my money” and were “criminals disguised as law enforcement.”
• They were “white supremacists.”
• Officer Brian Newman “used to do hard drugs” before “snitching.”
• Officer Lisa Phillips is “biologically male.”

Court Arguments

Foreman’s attorney, David Osborne, argued that the song was a form of comedy and free speech, noting that public officials are routinely subject to satire and criticism.

“We see public officials all the time that are made fun of. They are going to be held to higher standards, their work is going to be criticized, that’s just what happens when you’re a public official.” – David Osborne

The police’s attorney sought $3.9 million in damages, representing the seven officers.

Deputy‑representative lawyer Robert Klingler accused Foreman of “perpetuated lies intentionally repeatedly over 3 ½ years on the internet” and demanded that the verdict compel him to stop.

Outcome

The jury returned a verdict of not liable for defamation, invasion of privacy, false light, or publicity. Foreman testified that the raid itself was the root cause of the lawsuit, stating:

“If they hadn’t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit, I would not know their names, they wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs … my money would still be intact.”

For additional coverage, see the original report on WCPO: .