Afroman Now Suing Ohio Deputy Who Accused Him of Defamation in Latest Legal Twist
Afroman isn’t done with the courtroom–and this time, he’s the one filing suit.
Just months after scoring a major First Amendment victory against the Ohio sheriff’s deputies who sued him over his viral “Lemon Pound Cake” music videos, the “Because I Got High” rapper is taking the legal fight a step further. Joseph Foreman, better known as Afroman, has filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit against former Adams County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Newland, according to Rolling Stone.
The rapper is arguing that the deputy’s failed defamation case was frivolous and caused him significant financial and emotional harm.
On Facebook, Afroman announced the suit to coincide with his birthday. “Happy official birthday to me. And for my birthday present, I’m suing the officer who stole my $400, then had the audacity to sue me for 1,500,000 dollars,” he wrote.
RELATED: How Afroman Scored Big Legal Win Against Ohio Police After Dissing Officers in Famous Songs
The latest lawsuit is the newest chapter in a legal saga that began back in August 2022, when deputies raided Afroman’s Ohio home while investigating allegations of drug trafficking and kidnapping, we previously told you. The search turned up no criminal evidence, and no charges were filed. But after his property was damaged during the raid, Afroman turned the ordeal into a series of viral songs and music videos, using footage captured by his home security cameras.
Tracks like “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” and “Lemon Pound Cake” mocked the officers involved, racking up millions of views online. In response, seven deputies sued the rapper in 2023, claiming the videos invaded their privacy, portrayed them in a false light and damaged their reputations.
But a jury wasn’t convinced. We also told you back in March that jurors sided entirely with Afroman, rejecting the deputies’ claims in what free speech advocates hailed as a significant victory for artistic expression. The American Civil Liberties Union even backed the rapper during the case, arguing the lawsuit threatened protected speech.
Outside the courtroom, Afroman celebrated the legal victory. “We did it, America! Yeah, we did it! Freedom of speech! Right on! Right on!” he said.
Now, he’s seeking payback.
According to the new complaint obtained by WKRC News, Newland pursued a baseless lawsuit that forced the rapper to spend tens of thousands of dollars defending himself. The filing also revives Afroman’s longstanding allegation that $400 disappeared after deputies seized more than $5,000 in cash during the 2022 raid–a claim the sheriff’s office has previously attributed to a counting error.
He accused the deputy of malicious prosecution, abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress and tortious interference with contract, according to WLWT News. Afroman is seeking at least $25,000 in damages per claim. He’s also demanding a jury trial.
Whether the malicious prosecution claim ultimately succeeds remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the artist who turned a botched police raid into a viral hit is once again turning legal setbacks into another public–and very personal–encore.
