Partners in Problematic – Celebs Backing the Tory Lanez Petition

The verdict was in. The sentence was set. And yet, the stars started aligning for him. 

Over the past weeks, a growing number of artists and celebrities – Drake, Ye, Amber Rose, Chris Brown – have thrown weights behind a petition asking California governor Gavin Newsome to pardon Tory Lanez, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. The petition, now viral, has reignited debates about fame, justice and the selective amnesia that seems to follow certain stars.

This isn’t just about a legal case. It’s about the strange, persistent urge of some celebrities to circle the wagons around one of their own, no matter the facts. And in doing so, they reveal more about themselves than they probably intend to.

Here are some of the big names who have decided Tory Lanez deserves a second chance – and the controversy that comes with standing beside him.

Drake 

Drizzy and Tory themselves have had a complicated relationship – both hailing from Toronto, they emerged with an edge of rivalry – Drake, ever known for his subliminal shots, once belittled Lanez in his 2016 release ‘Summer Sixteen’, claiming “All you boys in the new Toronto want to be me a little.” But in the following years, both the Canadian rappers started showing signs of respect for each other, appearing at festivals together like Drake’s OVO Fest in 2017, and Lanez joining him on his European “Assassination Vacation” tour.

While he holds an allegiance to Lanez, it seemed there wasn’t much reason for Drizzy to throw shade at Megan. Yet, on his 2022 track with 21 Savage ‘Circo Loco’, he added in some dicey wordplay relating to her shooting – ‘This b***h lie bout getting shots, but she still a stallion’. Making her case a punchline was a punch down too far for many, with critics calling it a misogynistic, mean-spirited joke against Megan’s traumatic experience.

Drake is recently locked in his legal battle against UMG, regarding last summer’s impossible-to-miss battle with Kendrick Lamar. In a move that many hip-hop battle fans find questionable, he’s suing for defamation regarding the lyrics calling him a “paedophile” regarding his alleged proximity towards younger women, among other disses – even though he threw some strong barbs at Lamar himself about his family, alleging domestic violence. Regarding Tory’s new push for pardoning from the California governor, he wrote “Come home soon” on an Instagram story, while sharing a link to the petition.

Ye

It’s clear Kanye West is not done adding to his growing list of controversy, this time supporting Lanez as he sits behind bars. Earlier this month, rapper Top5 shared a screenshot of his texts with Ye, in which West asked what he could do about Lanez. Top5 told him to post the petition for his release to obtain more signatures, but he has yet to do so. It is also unknown if Ye signed the petition, even though West and Lanez have shared support with each other before in moments of scrutiny – during a listening event for West’s album “Vultures” in 2023, Ye said he and Lanez had been praying over the phone together, amidst his anti semitic spiral and Lanez’s incarceration.

This comes as Ye’s unreleased album, “Cuck”  was leaked on Discord, which featured shocking songs titled “Diddy Free,” “Heil Hitler,” “Gas Chambers” and “Hitler Ye Jesus.” Thankfully, the leakers themselves have donated all sales of the group-bought files to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

“Somebody got a drive and threw it on YouTube and said this is CUCK,” West wrote on X on May 19 following the leak. “What I love about getting blocked on DSPs and having songs leaked and shows cancelled is… It proves everything I’m saying and why I’m saying.”

West’s upcoming performance in South Korea was cancelled following the controversy, and sales of all Yeezy products were also halted, according to AllHipHop.

Amber Rose

The once hailed bald baddie and feminist trailblazer for founding the annual SlutWalk—a movement advocating against slut-shaming and female violence—has surprisingly wondered herself onto our list.

Known for empowering women and uplifting SA survivors, her recent actions have left fans feeling confused and betrayed. On May 18th, 2025, Rose shared a daming insta story supporting Tory Lanez. In her post, she urged her followers to sign a Change.org petition calling for his pardon, writing: “FREE TORY!!! He’s innocent his DNA WAS NOT ON THE GUN AT ALL!!! Sign now!”

This bold endorsement has reignited the already swirling public debate surrounding her authenticity as a feminist figure. Many fans on social media were quick to point out the contradiction between supporting a convicted abuser and advocating for survivors. Critics have also questioned how someone who once championed bodily autonomy and justice for women could now support a man found guilty of harming one. 

While the two don’t have any known connection, she’s standing ten toes in her endorsement. Leaving fans to wonder what happened to the Amber they used to know and what’s up with her unnatural allegiance to losers? 

Chris Brown

After his arrest in Manchester for allegedly attacking music producer Abe Diaw in a London nightclub, Chris Brown has once again found himself at the fore of controversy by showing support to the free Tory Lanez movement. Both artists indeed share a longstanding friendship that began in the early 2010s, joining forces on notable tracks such as ‘The Take”, ‘Flexible’ and “Lurking”. Most recently, Lanez shouted out Brown on his latest album fully recorded behind bars, claiming on “T.D.F x L.A. County Jail” that Brown has supported him financially during Lanez’ time in prison. It comes as no surprise then that Chris Brown posted a “Free Tory” message on his Instagram story, endorsing the newly-filed petition circulating in the media that is calling for Tory Lanez’ release and full pardon from California Governor Gavin Newsom. 

Chris Brown’s public affiliation with the “Free Tory” has once again caused the world to question Brown’s moral compass, having seemingly been on the road to redemption since he infamously plead guilty to assaulting Rihanna in 2009. His recently uncovered bust-up in London does suggest that Brown still has ways to go in fully regaining the public’s trust, with his bail denial after the Manchester arrest acting as a further blemish to his name. 

Brown was residing in the UK in preparation for his global ‘Breezy Bowl Tour’ beginning June 15th, being allowed to return to the nation after a ten-year ban following the assault charges. It does scream poetic justice that his return to the UK has prompted another run-in with the law, casting major doubts over the viability of his upcoming tour. 

When Accountability Knocks: A PR Disaster Disguised as Solidarity

While the internet continues to debate the ethics of forgiveness and cancel culture, it’s worth asking who gets so loudly defended – and why. It’s almost funny how every celebrity riding “Team Tory” just so happens to have their own laundry list of controversies – from assault allegations to public meltdowns and everything in between. Kanye, Drake, Amber, Chris… it’s less a roster of moral clarity and more a walking PR disaster class. Maybe it’s not about standing with Tory – maybe it’s about standing with each other, because when accountability knocks, it’s always easier to link arms and pretend it’s not your door.