On May 19, 2025, rapper Drake urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Tory Lanez. He shared a Change.org petition with over 270,000 signatures on his Instagram Story, accompanied by the message, “Come home soon.”
Initiated by the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety, the petition questions the reliability of evidence and witness testimonies in Lanez’s 2022 conviction for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
Daystar Peterson, better known as Tory Lanez, is serving a 10-year sentence at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. On May 12, he was reportedly stabbed 14 times by an inmate named Santino Casio, who is a convicted murderer.
Drake is publicly backing Tory Lanez after the rapper was reportedly stabbed 14 times in a California prison this week.
Posting a https://t.co/VPc7hOfF3m pardon petition to his Story, Drake wrote, “@torylanez come home soon.”
Lanez, serving 10 years for shooting Megan Thee… pic.twitter.com/szRzd4aOQC
— billboard hip-hop/r&b (@billboardhiphop) May 19, 2025The attack resulted in injuries to Lanez’s back, torso, head, and face, and both of his lungs collapsed. An Instagram post on Lanez’s account stated that he was briefly placed on a breathing apparatus, but is now recovering and in good spirits. However, this information has not been verified.
Trial Controversy
Lanez’s conviction for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion remains divisive, with artists like 50 Cent and Iggy Azalea previously supporting him, per TMZ. Drake’s 2022 lyrics seemed to question Megan’s account, sparking debate. The petition claims the trial’s evidence was flawed, but there has been no official response from Newsom.
Megan Thee Stallion asserts Tory Lanez is guilty of shooting her in new post.
Several artists have shared a petition to pardon Tory, including Drake, Ye, Ty Dolla Sign, Amber Rose, Trippie Redd, Kodak Black, Popcaan, Joyner Lucas & A Boogie wit da Hoodie. pic.twitter.com/A6Nyw1VYqF
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 20, 2025Convicted in state court, Lanez is eligible for a gubernatorial pardon, though Newsom’s action seems unlikely given the case’s high profile, per TMZ.
Lanez’s legal team claims new evidence supports his innocence, but the details remain unverified. The Caldwell Institute’s petition emphasises perceived judicial errors. Lanez has teased an album recorded in prison, titled Peterson, amid his incarceration.
The petition and the recent stabbing incident have brought renewed attention to Lanez’s case, prison safety, and the influence of celebrities. Although the petition is gaining support, it is unclear how it will affect Governor Newsom’s decision. This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions within the music industry surrounding the 2020 shooting, as fans and artists remain divided on the issue.
