Megan Thee Stallion views herself as a survivor.
Four months ago, Tory Lanez was found guilty in the 2020 shooting of the Grammy-winning rapper, whose real name is Megan Jovon Ruth Pete. Though she has remained silent on social media, Pete recently opened up about case, and the backlash she received for coming forward.
"There were conspiracy theories that I was never shot. Then came the false narratives that my former best friend shot me. Even some of my peers in the music industry piled on with memes, jokes, and sneak disses, and completely ignored the fact that I could have lost my life,” Pete wrote in an essay for ELLE magazine. “Instead of condemning any form of violence against a woman, these individuals tried to justify my attacker’s actions."
Pete wrote that she believes racism and misogyny heavily swayed discourse, as she is "a Black woman who doesn't appear as if she needs help." She said that because she “didn’t fit the profile of a victim,” many assumed that she "didn’t need support or protection."
"Time after time, women are bullied with backlash for speaking out against their attackers, especially when they’re accusing someone who is famous and wealthy," Pete said. "They’re often accused of lying or attempting to make money from their trauma. From firsthand experience, I know why a lot of women don’t come forward. Any support and empathy that I received was drowned out by overwhelming doubt and criticism from so many others."
Pete added that Lanez's guilty verdict was "more than just vindication for me, it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them."
"We must create safer environments for women to come forward about violent behavior without fear of retaliation," she continued. "We must provide stronger resources for women to recover from these tragedies physically and emotionally, without fear of judgment. We must do more than say her name. We must protect all women who have survived the unimaginable."
Pete said that she has been taking time to heal, and that while she has been journaling to help her through her experiences, she's excited to return to making music for the fans that supported her. The rapper concluded her message by sending support to other survivors.
"For anyone who has survived violence, please know your feelings are valid. You matter. You are not at fault. You are important. You are loved. You are not defined by your trauma," Pete wrote. "You can continue to write beautiful, new chapters to your life story. Just because you are in a bad situation doesn’t mean you are a bad person. Our value doesn’t come from the opinions of other people. As long as you stand your ground and live in your truth, nobody can take your power."
