Just days after the harrowing news broke that Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was brutally attacked in a California prison, fellow chart-topper Drake has stepped into the fray, publicly sharing a petition urging California's governor, Gavin Newsom, to grant Lanez a pardon.
"Come home soon," Drake posted on his Instagram story, accompanied by a direct link to the online petition. This move from one of the biggest names in music is sure to amplify the already intense conversation surrounding Lanez's incarceration.
The details of the prison attack are disturbing. Reports indicate that Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was stabbed a shocking 14 times by a fellow inmate last week. The assault was so severe that it reportedly caused both of his lungs to collapse, necessitating an urgent rush to a hospital. Thankfully, recent updates suggest that Lanez is expected to recover from these horrific injuries.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the attack occurred around 7:20 am local time on May 12th. Prison staff immediately administered first aid before the 32-year-old rapper was transported to a medical facility for further treatment.
A post on Lanez's official Instagram account painted a grim picture of the assault, stating he was stabbed in the back, torso, head, and face, requiring temporary ventilation with a breathing apparatus. The good news is that he is now reportedly breathing on his own. The post conveyed a message of resilience, stating that despite the pain, Lanez is "talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through."
The alleged assailant, identified as 41-year-old Santino Casio, is reportedly serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and other violent offenses. Officials have stated that Casio has been placed in "restricted housing" while an investigation into the stabbing is underway. Disturbingly, records from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation indicate that Casio has a history of violence within the prison system, receiving additional sentences for assaulting another prisoner in 2008 and for possessing a deadly weapon in 2018.
This brutal prison attack comes while Tory Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence for the 2020 shooting of fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete). That case, which stemmed from an incident after a pool party at Kylie Jenner's Hollywood mansion, deeply divided the hip-hop community. Several artists, including 50 Cent and Iggy Azalea, publicly appeared to take sides, with some even appealing to the court for leniency during Lanez's sentencing.
Adding another layer to this complex situation, Drake's track "Circo Loco," a collaboration with 21 Savage, seemed to reference the shooting, with lyrics that some interpreted as implying Megan had lied about the incident. This led to a public back-and-forth, with Megan accusing Drake of making light of violence against women.
Now, Drake's sharing of the Change.org petition, created by the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety, has thrown another log onto the fire. The petition, which currently boasts around 270,000 signatures, calls on Governor Gavin Newsom to grant Lanez a "full pardon." It also raises questions about the evidence and witness accounts presented during Lanez's trial.
As of now, Governor Newsom has not publicly commented on this pardon request.
Prior to his conviction, Tory Lanez enjoyed significant success, with seven US top 10 albums in the seven years leading up to his sentencing. He has even teased the release of a new album recorded from prison, titled "Peterson," suggesting his creative output continues despite his incarceration.
Drake's public support for Lanez's pardon will undoubtedly fuel further debate and discussion within the music industry and among fans. Will Governor Newsom heed the growing calls for Lanez's release? This is a developing story that has the hip-hop world – and beyond – watching closely.
