Soulja Boy has been slapped with a $4 million verdict in his sexual battery lawsuit, and he’s now planning to challenge the decision through an appeal.
On Thursday, a jury ordered Soulja to fork over $4.25 million to a woman who claimed she was his personal assistant and accused him of sexual battery and assault in 2021.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court ruling also includes $250,000 in punitive damages that Big Draco will need to pay.
The jury found him responsible for the allegations, including intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and gender violence. This verdict came after the accuser’s attorneys requested the court award her $73.5 million in compensatory damages.
Soulja shared his reaction to the verdict while leaving the Santa Monica courtroom. In his statement, he made it clear he was unhappy with the jury’s decision.
“Today, I stand before you, deeply disappointed in the verdict delivered in my case,” Soulja said as he read the statement from his phone. “I firmly believe that the decision made in court was not based on facts or substantial evidence but rather on factors that were outside of my control. The truth was overshadowed by the involvement of individuals such as the jury who are not present during the events in question, and I feel that the system allows external influences to shape the outcome.”
Soulja continued by claiming the trial was an “unequal playing field,” since his accuser could remain anonymous as Jane Doe while he faced “public scrutiny.” He also argued that the entire trial process was “tainted” and failed to protect the rights of the accused.
The Atlanta rapper then looked directly into the camera and declared, “I want to make it clear that I’m innocent.” He wrapped up his statement by affirming his commitment to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to come out in this case.
