Afroman testifies that unflattering videos of sheriff’s deputies were ‘their fault’ after imperfect raid

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Afroman appeared in court Tuesday for a civil case filed by seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies. They claim he used their images and names without their consent in his music videos and on products he sells, and that he made false statements about them following a raid on his home in August 2022.

The rapper, known for his song “Because I Got High,” insisted he wasn’t at fault. The jury was discussing the case on Wednesday.

I was really struck by what Joseph Edgar Foreman, who’s 51, said while testifying on Tuesday. He seemed absolutely convinced he was doing the right thing, as reported by WCPO Channel 9 in Cincinnati.

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Foreman, dressed in a patriotic red, white, and blue suit and sunglasses with American flag lenses, testified that the raid on his home was a complete error and blamed the officials involved. He stated that if the raid hadn’t happened, the resulting lawsuit, his knowledge of their identities, their presence on his security footage, and even the songs he’s written about the incident, would never have occurred.

In 2022, police searched a property based on a warrant that suggested drugs and drug-related items might be present. The warrant also claimed that illegal drug activity and a kidnapping may have occurred there. However, the search didn’t uncover any evidence of a crime, and no one was charged. The property owner wasn’t home at the time, but he reviewed video footage from his ex-wife and his own security system – before officers disabled the cameras – and saw at least part of the search.

I remember seeing that footage pop up everywhere after the raid – he actually used it in his music videos! He even wrote a song called “Lemon Pound Cake” inspired by everything that happened, and the video featured those very scenes.

According to the rapper, officers broke down his door and caused damage to his home while searching it. They took cash, vape pens, and a small amount of marijuana. A disagreement over how much money was taken and later returned to him seemed to stem from whether he was accurately describing the deputies’ actions during the search.

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Honestly, after those guys left, I felt completely justified in taking matters into my own hands and fixing the mess they’d made at my place. And I did. I mean, I believe in free speech, and as a rapper, that’s part of what I do – I’m an entertainer, and that includes handling things my way.

The trial continued with testimony from Foreman, following the initial statements from the deputies. They explained that while the raid wasn’t flawless, Foreman had been falsely accusing them for years. Deputy Lisa Phillips became emotional while watching videos and seeing social media posts where Foreman questioned her gender identity.

A video featuring the song “Licc’em Low Lisa” captured Foreman saying he intended to make light of the situation after the raid. It then showed him comforting an actor who looked like Phillips and was visibly upset. Foreman said, “I didn’t know they hurt you that bad… I was just having fun with a bad situation.” The video also included footage of the actor engaged in sexual activity with another woman.

According to the lawsuit, the deputies claimed the social media posts and videos caused them significant emotional harm, damaged their reputations, and hindered their ability to perform their duties as law enforcement officers.

However, in a friend-of-the-court brief, the ACLU stated the deputies’ lawsuit seemed to be a typical example of a “SLAPP suit”—a case designed to silence people who criticize those in public office.

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2026-03-18 22:01