ENTERTAINMENT NEWS – Jury finds rapper Soulja Boy liable for sexual assault and abuse of his ex-assistant, fined $4 million

Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer

On Thursday, a jury found that rapper Soulja Boy was liable for sexually assaulting and physically and emotionally abusing his former assistant. This ruling also awarded the woman over $4 million in damages. This decision came just three weeks after the trial in Santa Monica, California. 

The 34-year-old rapper Soulja Boy, whose legal name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was found liable for sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jurors did not find him liable for false imprisonment and other allegations. They awarded the woman $4 million in compensatory damages and about $250,000 in punitive damages. Lead defense attorney Rickey Ivie said, “We maintain that the evidence does not support the verdict. Unfortunately, aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial. Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case.” The woman was not identified by her name in the lawsuit she filed in 2021.