US rapper Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, has been ordered by a California jury to pay a total of $4.25 million to a woman who accused him of severe physical and sexual abuse.
The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, filed a civil lawsuit in 2021 claiming she was repeatedly raped, assaulted, and imprisoned while working as his personal assistant.
Despite Soulja Boy’s denial and his insistence that their relationship was consensual, the jury found him liable for sexual battery, assault, and gender violence after a contentious trial.
According to court documents, the woman was hired as Way’s assistant in 2018 and shortly after began what became a romantic relationship.
However, she alleged that what started as a professional and personal connection quickly devolved into repeated physical violence and sexual abuse. “I didn’t even feel human anymore,” she told the court in emotional testimony. “I felt like an animal.”
She added that she had dropped to almost 6 stone (39 kg) during the time she spent with him and feared for her safety every day. “I managed to get away from him,” she said, holding back tears. “But it almost killed me.”
During her time with the rapper, the woman claimed she was routinely punched, raped, and manipulated into staying in the relationship through threats and coercion. “He told me if I ever left, he would post sexually explicit videos of me online. He threatened my family. I believed him,” she testified.
The court was shown disturbing text messages that supported her claims—ranging from cruel insults like “I hope you die slow,” to messages of apparent regret such as “Are u ok? I’m sorry I love u please call.” Her lawyer, Ronald Zambrano, told the jury, “These aren’t the messages of an innocent man. These are the words of a predator trying to control his victim.”
Soulja Boy, now 34, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and called the allegations “disgusting.”
In his defense, he claimed that the woman had never been employed by him and that their relationship was purely informal. “She wasn’t my assistant,” he said in court. “I let her stay at my house. In return, she helped out with small things like rolling weed.”
His legal team, led by attorney Rickey Ivie, argued that the accuser had fabricated the story out of “jealousy, revenge and financial gain.” They also pointed to inconsistencies in her account and tried to frame the lawsuit as a cash grab.
Despite these arguments, the jury awarded $4 million in compensatory damages and an additional $250,000 in punitive damages to the woman.
Speaking to Rolling Stone after the verdict, she said, “I feel like I got justice. Obviously, it’s not going to return everything I lost. I lost way more than I gained. But my hope is he doesn’t do this to any more women.”
She added that the most painful part of the process was reliving the trauma in court but said she was proud to have spoken out.
Way appeared composed and calm as the verdict was read aloud. Outside the courthouse, he told reporters, “I maintain my innocence. I’m committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed.”
While he was found liable for sexual assault, the jury cleared him on charges of false imprisonment and constructive dismissal.
The mixed outcome, however, did little to diminish the weight of the financial judgment or the gravity of the allegations.
This is not the first time Soulja Boy has faced such legal trouble. In 2023, a Los Angeles judge ordered him to pay nearly half a million dollars to former girlfriend Kayla Myers, who accused him of assault and kidnapping in a 2020 lawsuit.
That case further cemented a pattern of disturbing behavior, according to critics. Though Soulja Boy rose to fame with hits like “Crank That,” “Pretty Boy Swag,” and “Kiss Me Thru The Phone,” his recent years have been mired in legal battles and controversy, overshadowing his earlier success in music and entertainment.
