Published by LA Times
Megan Thee Stallion usually isn’t shy when holding a microphone in front of tens of thousands of people at music festivals and during headline sets across the country.
The rapper, whose legal name is Megan Pete, talked about depression and suicide. She teared up repeatedly. And she expressed regret for ever coming forward about the incident that landed her in court Tuesday — her 2020 shooting, allegedly at the hands of Canadian hip-hop star Tory Lanez.
A small group of demonstrators holding signs reading “I Stand With Megan” stood near the Temple Street entrance to the courthouse, where Pete arrived shortly before 9 a.m. and entered the Hall of Justice.
Jaki Murillo, a youth mentor with the Young Women’s Freedom Center, said she felt the need to show up Tuesday because of what she sees as male hip-hop artists’ frustrating refusal to believe Pete.