Soulja Boy’s sexual assault civil trial has kicked off in Santa Monica, California.
The trial started Thursday with prosecutors presenting opening statements, according to a news release. A former personal assistant (Jane Doe) filed a 2021 lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery, rape, assault, false imprisonment, emotional distress, unpaid overtime, and creating a hostile workplace.
Jane Doe began working for Soulja in 2018 and claims he sent explicit photos within her first month, though they later developed a romantic relationship. She alleges the rapper (DeAndre Cortez Way) physically and sexually assaulted her – kicking, punching, spitting, and making death threats.
“On one occasion, defendant Way punched plaintiff so hard in the head, she lost consciousness, only to wake up in a locked bedroom with no mattress, food or water,” the lawsuit reads. “On another occasion when plaintiff tried to quit and leave defendant Way, defendant Way locked her in a room for approximately three days against her will with no hot water until she was coerced into not leaving.”
Her lawsuit also claims Soulja pushed her from his car, repeatedly punched her, and raped her multiple times. She says he imprisoned her for three days when she tried to leave.
Soulja denied everything, telling TMZ in 2021, “I vehemently and unequivocally deny these allegations. I am in contact with my legal team and the appropriate legal action will be taken against these lies.”
This isn’t his first brush with such accusations. Ex-girlfriends Nia Riley and Kayla Myers have also alleged physical and sexual assault. In 2021, Riley told blogger Tasha K she miscarried after Soulja kicked her stomach and threatened her with a gun.
“It took her years to escape the psychological and physical grasp of her abuser,” her lawyer, Neama Rahmani, told USA TODAY at the time.
