Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for BMI
<p>Tory Lanez has issued his first public statement after being sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday. As <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/tory-lanez-sentenced-megan-thee-stallion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Shade Room</a> previously reported, the rapper was convicted of three charges in December.</p>
<p>Additionally, the charges were connected to the 2020 assault of Megan Thee Stallion.</p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">RELATED: <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/tory-lanez-sentenced-megan-thee-stallion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BREAKING: Tory Lanez Sentenced To 10 Years In State Prison In Megan Thee Stallion Assault Case</a></h5>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tory Lanez Releases His First Public Statement Following His Sentencing</h3>
<p>On Thursday evening, Tory Lanez&#8217;s official Instagram account shared a statement with the rapper&#8217;s fans. Lanez&#8217;s words firmly maintained his innocence regarding the 2020 incident.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;To The Umbrellas,&#8221; the statement read, addressing the rapper&#8217;s fanbase. &#8220;I have never let a hard time intimidate me. I will never never let no jail time eliminate me. Regardless of how they try to spin my words, I have always maintained my innocence and I always will.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Lanez went on to explain that &#8220;this week in court,&#8221; he &#8220;took responsibility for all the verbal and intimate moments&#8221; he shared with all &#8220;parties involved&#8221; in the case. His statement seemingly referenced the alleged victim, Megan Thee Stallion, and her former best friend, who was also present during her alleged assault, Kelsey Harris.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;In no way shape or form was I apologizing for the wrongful charges I&#8217;m being convicted of,&#8221; Lanez stated. &#8220;I remain on the stance that I refuse to apologize for something that I did not do.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>The rapper continued by explaining that he&#8217;s &#8220;faced adversity&#8221; his entire life. However, he&#8217;s always &#8220;came out on top.&#8221; He explained that &#8220;this is nothing but another moment&#8221; where his &#8220;back is against the wall.&#8221; But he refuses to &#8220;stop fighting&#8221; until he comes out &#8220;victorious.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Tough times don&#8217;t last, tough people do,&#8221; he reiterated.</p></blockquote>
<p>Lanez then closed out his sentiments by thanking his family, friends, and fans for their support. He even added, &#8220;See you soon.&#8221;</p>
<p>Furthermore, Lanez also shared a brief caption with his Instagram post.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Through Good Times and Bad Times … Stay Strong … I’ll See You All Soon âï¸&#8221;</p></blockquote>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Letters Of Support For The Rapper Surfaced Following His Sentencing</h3>
<p>Lanez&#8217;s statement is the latest occurrence in the week-long string of events regarding his criminal trial. Earlier Thursday, it was revealed that R&;B singer Mario wrote a letter of support to Judge David Herriford before Lanez&#8217;s sentencing.</p>
<p>According to a photo of the letter, shared by legal reporter Meghann Cuniff, Mario advocated for Lanez&#8217;s &#8220;work ethic and character.&#8221; Additionally, Mario added that he has &#8220;never seen Tory act out of character in a manner to hurt someone.&#8221;</p>
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<p>After news of Mario&#8217;s support letter for Lanez surfaced, social media users shared their mixed reactions, captured by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvxQJNROXo4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&;igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Shade Room</a>.</p>
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<p>Additionally, we should add that the exposure of Mario&#8217;s letter of support for Tory Lanez followed Iggy Azalea&#8217;s letter of support also surfacing. As <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/iggy-azalea-letter-of-support-tory-lanez/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Shade Room</a> previously reported, Azalea also spoke to Lanez&#8217;s character.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">RELATED: <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/iggy-azalea-letter-of-support-tory-lanez/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iggy Azalea&#8217;s Letter Of Support For Tory Lanez Is Revealed, Says She&#8217;d Employ Him As A Producer If He Isn&#8217;t Deported</a></p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I deeply appreciate the person he is and have never witnessed him loose [<em>sic</em>] his temper or raise his voice at a woman. He’s always been incredibly respectful of me and I refuse to believe that he would do anything in malice especially to a woman.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Tory Lanez&#8217;s Legal Team Spoke Out After His Sentencing Earlier This Week</h3>
<p>As <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/jose-baez-appeal-tory-lanez-10-year-prison-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Shade Room</a> previously reported, Lanez&#8217;s legal team shared their sentiments following his sentencing on Tuesday. Attorney Jose Baez explained that Lanez receiving a ten-year prison sentence was &#8220;incredibly harsh.&#8221;</p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">RELATED: <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/jose-baez-appeal-tory-lanez-10-year-prison-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jose Baez Shares Plans To Appeal Tory Lanez&#8217;s 10-Year Prison Sentence: &#8216;The Sentence Handed Down Was Incredibly Harsh&#8217;</a></h5>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;We’re extremely disappointed that Tory did not get the sentence that we had certainly hoped for. I think the sentence handed down was incredibly harsh&#8230; to get a ten-year sentence is extreme. And really just another example of someone being punished for their celebrity status. And someone being utilized to set an example&#8230;&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Additionally, Baez explained that he has immediate plans to appeal Lanez&#8217;s sentence.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to note, Lanez has reportedly been credited with time served to his 10-year prison sentence, as per <a href="https://twitter.com/meghanncuniff/status/1689317760105660417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1689317760105660417%7Ctwgr%5Eefb60fd3e115d83d524cf61c3a4e2b8beb40c0f7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotnewhiphop.com%2F701965-tory-lanez-year-shaven-off-sentence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legal reporter Meghann Cuniff</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Lanez will be credited for 231 days he’s already spent in jail, and he gets 15% credit of 34 days. Herriford also is crediting his 40 days of house arrest, for a total of 305 days. He&#8217;ll request bail pending appeal, which will be heard Aug. 15. (Extremely unlikely to be granted.)&#8221;</p></blockquote>
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