Iggy Azalea to Tory Lanez's sentencing judge: 'I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser'
The musician did not mention Megan Thee Stallion or the shooting but said of Tory Lanez, 'I've never encountered this jealous, rage filled person he's accused of being.'
The quotes in this article are taken verbatim from the letter, including misspellings, punctuation errors and typos.
Rapper Iggy Azalea told the judge who sentenced Tory Lanez for shooting Megan Thee Stallion that he’s not an abuser and “any leniency you may afford him would be something you could be proud of.”
“I deeply appreciate the person he is and have never witnessed him loose [sp] his temper or raise his voice at a woman,” Azalea wrote. “He’s always been incredibly respectful of me and I refuse to believe that he would do anything in malice especially to a woman.”
She described herself as a “victim of abuse myself” in her three-page, typed letter.
“I must make note of the things ive suffered through so that you understand definitively: I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser,” wrote the 33-year-old Australian, whose songs include the 2014 smash “Fancy.”
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford referenced Azalea’s Feb. 22 letter and the 75 others submitted for Lanez during the two-day hearing that concluded Tuesday afternoon with Lanez being sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the feet and injuring her on July 12, 2020.
Herriford said Lanez’s harassment of Megan, including online and through his music, was a “a major factor in aggravation in this case.”
At the beginning of the hearing on Monday, the judge briefly described each letter submitted for Lanez and identified the author. With Azaleas’, he mentioned only that she described Lanez as a talented songwriter and asked for a sentence that’s transformational and not life destroying.
As word spread of her letter, Azalea posted online that she was told her words would only be seen by the judge. She said she “never intended to publicly comment.”
“I don’t ‘support’ anyone. the whole thing is full of oddities,” she said in the post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “My letter never mentioned anything in regard to what happened that night.”
Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff obtained a copy of Azalea’s letter on Wednesday. In it, Azalea told Judge Herriford of Lanez, “I have remained in close contact with him during incarceration and I am confident he has already gained positive insight in regard to this experience.” She said she spoke with Lanez “last week,” which, based on the Feb. 22 date on the letter, would have been the week of Feb. 12 through Feb. 18.
Lanez “told me he’s glad God put him in jail,” Azalea wrote.
“He said this is an opportunity to humble himself and soften his heart - ironic to hear one of the kindest people I know strive to become even kinder,” she continued. “I’m not shocked - Its who he is. Watering and shining light on others until something beautiful grows.”
Using Lanez’s legal name, Azalea wrote, “Daystar Peterson is not the pest you’ve heard about, he’s a gardener. He helps others bloom.”
Should Lanez not be deported to his native Canada after he serves his sentence, Azalea told the judge, “I would employ him without hesitation as an executive producer on my next album.”
“In fact - I already hired him for the job prior to his conviction! I guarantee to you he has significant income and work awaiting him upon release if you would kindly consider a sentence that does not require deportation,” Azalea wrote.
She called Lanez “far from your average entitled rap star” and that he’s “been helping me from the moment I met him” in a recording studio in 2018.
“Although he was writing music for another artist, he took the initiative to come to my room in his break time and play song ideas he’d written for me too,” Azalea wrote. “This resonated with me because it’s highly unusual for someone who’s already very successful to want to help others. Music is competitive in that way,” she said.
Azalea said she understands Lanez to be “genuinely passionate about helping others.”
“He will go out of his way to help someone he sees even glimmer of greatness inside. Although he’s an incredible songwriter, it’s my belief this is his true gift,” she wrote. “Seeing what could be and becoming the driving force to make it happen.”
Azalea said she hired six of Lanez’s employees “not only because they are great hardworking people, but so that they remain in a position to transition back into running his business when he’s completed his sentence.”
“Im doing all I can to make sure he’s in a position to come home and get back to work,” she wrote.
Azalea said the music business “is not designed to empower Artists - especially not women.”
“You learn to expect misogyny at every turn, no matter how much you’ve personally achieved,” Azalea said. “Sadly I’ve spent my entire career battling sexism and bad behavior behind the curtains.”
She said her past abuse is why “I felt it very imperative I share my viewpoint as a woman in music: in regard to Daystar Peterson.”
Azalea never mentioned Megan or Lanez’s felony convictions for first-degree assault with a firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm and possession of a concealed and unregistered firearm inside a vehicle.
But she described Lanez as “the last person to loose [sp] his cool” and says she’s seen him “defuse so many sticky situations with kindness and humor.”
“I’ve never encountered this jealous, rage filled person he’s accused of being,” she wrote. “I know him to be someone who’s always bursting with happiness. In the moments you want to cry, if you call daystar, he will find a way to make you laugh.”
She also implies the jury got it wrong, first telling Herriford she was “elated when I saw your name in relation to this trial because you have a reputation of being a very fair judge.”
“In fact its one of the reasons I was a sadnned [s]) Daystar had subpar legal counsel and did not take the stand at his own trial,” she wrote. “We’ve all been frozen in fear before. The unfortunate side effect of his choice is he’s been painted in the most unrecognizable way: to you, the jury and the public.”
“I hope you’ll consider a sentence that allows for this to be transformational and not life destroying. Not only for Daystar - but for his family, son and the countless others who depend on him & are committed to helping him reach his full potential,” Azalea wrote.
Azalea did not explain how she knew of Herriford, a former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010.
“I believe in justice and I know you do too. You’ve dedicated your life’s work to it and I respect that deeply. Thats why im taking my time to do this, because I know the person you are understands in order to truly conclude what a fair sentence is, You need better understanding of who the person you’re sentencing IS at their core.” ” Azalea wrote.
Azalea introduced herself as “a successful musician for the last decade” and said she’s sold “over 65 million records throughout my career, had number 1 hits on the billboard hot 100 and broken records previously held by ‘The Beatles’.”
“My music has been nominated for 6 Grammys and I have a multitude of other musical awards. Throughout my career I’ve toured with some of the biggest acts in music: from Beyonce to Pitbull. I’ve also collaborated withe everyone from Britney Spears to Jenifer Lopez,” Azalea said. “In short, like yourself, I’m great at what I do and I’m well respected by my peers.”
Past coverage:
I went through all the letters on Thursday while live on YouTube. The recording is below.
I’ve been on a bit of a media blitz. Check out my appearances on BBC News, Spectrum News 1 SoCal, CBS Chicago and Scripps News: