Afroman Sues Ohio Police Officer After Winning Defamation Lawsuit

Afroman has sued one of the Ohio police officers who raided his home in August 2022, just over four months after winning a major jury verdict against them. The rapper filed the lawsuit against former deputy Brian K. Newland in the Court of Common Pleas in Adams County, Ohio, on Monday, July 27th. Newland is one of seven officers who sued Afroman for defamation and invasion of privacy after he used home security footage in music videos mocking them for the failed raid. In a victory for freedom of speech, an Ohio jury found Afroman not liable for any of the claims filed against him. Get Afroman Tickets Here In Afroman’s complaint (via Billboard), he alleges Newland’s defamation lawsuit was “malicious prosecution” that “lacked legal merit” and was meant only to “harass” him. It is currently unknown why Afroman is targeting Newland rather than all seven officers involved in the original suit. He did, however, release a song called “Brian Newland Is a Flag” a few months ago, accusing the officer of having “sex with a minor.” “Plaintiff suffered emotional distress, anxiety and reputational harm as a result of defendant’s frivolous lawsuit,” the legal filing reads. “Defendant’s conduct in filing and prosecuting the frivolous lawsuit was willful, wanton and malicious.” Afroman is seeking a minimum of $25,000 in legal bills and other expenses that he attributes to the lawsuit. “I’m suing the police officer who stole my $400, then had the audacity to sue me for 1,500,000 dollars,” the 52-year-old artist wrote in an Instagram statement, adding that the lawsuit was a “birthday present” to himself. Ohio county sheriff’s deputies conducted an armed raid on Afroman’s property in August 2022 on unfounded suspicions of drug trafficking and kidnapping. Though they seized $5,031 in cash and other property, no wrongdoing was found, and no charges were ever filed. In retaliation, Afroman utilized his own surveillance camera footage to release several music videos aimed at the officers, including one called “Lemon Pound Cake.” Newland and six others (Shawn D. Cooley, Justin Cooley, Michael D. Estep, Shawn S. Grooms, Lisa Phillips, and Randolph L. Walters, Jr.) filed a lawsuit in 2023, claiming they suffered “emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation, and humiliation” as a result of the videos. During the trial, Afroman stated he had a First Amendment right to mock the officers, saying, “All of this is their fault, and they have the audacity to sue me.” The jury cleared him of all charges after just hours of deliberation. Earlier this year, the “Because I Got High” rapper celebrated his legal victory by releasing a new album, Freedom of Speech, which fittingly dropped on April 20th. He is currently on a US tour in support of the album through early December. Get tickets via Vivid Seats, where new customers can use promo code CONSEQUENCE20 to receive $20 off their first order of $200 or more. The Vivid Seats Rewards program also offers members a free ticket for every 10 tickets purchased. Afroman 2026 Tour Dates: 08/03 — Paducah, KY @ Carson Center for the Performing Arts 08/03 — Jonesboro, AR @ Brickhouse Bar & Grill 08/04 — Texarkana, AR @ The Wild hare 08/05 — Tyler, TX @ Bricks Bar & Grill 08/06 — Austin, TX @ Pershing Hall 08/07 — Fort Worth, TX @ Tannahill’s Music Hall & Lounge 08/08 — Fort Worth, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 08/09 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues 08/10 — Ardmore, OK @ Station Sports Bar & Grill 08/10 — Duncan, OK @ Kochendorger Brewing 08/11 — Newton, KS @ Moxie Community Pub 08/12 — Norfolk, NE @ District Event Center 08/15 — Janesville, WI @ TBA 08/21 — Upper Sandusky, OH @ Route 30 Rodeo @ Wyandot County Fairgrounds 08/22 — Raleigh, NC @ The Yard at Bowstring 08/28 — Boonsboro, MD @ The Hall 08/29 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino 09/05 — Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom 09/06 — Louisville, KY @ East Tennessee Distillery 09/11 — Westchester Township, OH @ Lori’s Roadhouse 09/18 — Davenport, IA @ Capitol Theatre 09/19 — Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest 10/01 — Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom 10/02 — Paw Paw, MI @ Warner Vineyards 10/03 — Wyandotte, MI @ District 142 10/10 — Lorain, OH @ Lorain Palace Theater 10/17 — Wyandotte, MI @ The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia 10/30 — Orlando, FL @ The Vanguard 11/04 — Philadelphia, PA @ TBA 12/04 — Fontana, CA @ TBA 12/05 — Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go Go