Afroman found not liable in bizarre defamation case brought by Ohio cops who raided his home
A jury has ruled that rapper Afroman is not liable for defamation over a satirical music video that included footage of police officers raiding his home, bringing an end to a legal battle that began after a 2022 search of the musician’s property.
The 51-year-old artist, best known for the hit song “Because I Got High,” whose real name is Joseph Foreman, reacted emotionally in court after the verdict was read on Wednesday. He raised his hands and embraced supporters after jurors determined he was not responsible for defamation or false-light invasion of privacy.
The lawsuit stemmed from an August 2022 search conducted at Foreman’s home by deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio. Authorities carried out the raid while investigating possible drug activity, but the search did not lead to any criminal charges.
Following the incident, Foreman released a satirical track titled “Lemon Pound Cake.” The music video included actual footage from security cameras inside his home that captured deputies forcing entry during the search. Foreman has said the song and video were created in part to help pay for damage caused to his property during the raid.
In March 2023, seven deputies involved in the search filed a lawsuit against the rapper. They argued that the video and related social media posts harmed their reputations, violated their privacy, and caused emotional distress.
The video itself shows officers entering the house during the raid. In one scene, an officer appears to look at a lemon pound cake while holding a firearm.
According to the lawsuit, Foreman later posted content online identifying the deputies and making accusations about them. The officers claimed the posts falsely alleged that they had stolen money from him and described them as criminals pretending to be law enforcement. The complaint also stated that some posts accused the deputies of being white supremacists, claimed Officer Brian Newman had previously used hard drugs before informing on others, and said that Officer Lisa Phillips was biologically male.
Foreman’s attorney argued throughout the trial that the music video and related commentary were protected under the First Amendment as satire and criticism of public officials.
Defense lawyer David Osborne told jurors during closing arguments that public officials are often subject to ridicule and scrutiny. He said the video should be viewed as a form of social commentary about how the search of Foreman’s home was handled.
Attorneys representing the deputies sought a combined $3.9 million in damages, divided among the seven officers. Their lawyer, Robert Klingler, argued that Foreman had spread false statements online for more than three years and insisted the claims were knowingly untrue.
During testimony earlier in the trial, Foreman blamed the officers for the situation, saying the legal dispute would never have happened if his home had not been raided.
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He told the court that if the search had not occurred, he would not know the deputies’ names, they would not have appeared on his home surveillance footage, and the songs that followed would never have been made. He also said the raid cost him money and led to the chain of events that resulted in the lawsuit.
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