Afroman found not liable in defamation case (nypost.com)

by antonymoose 739 comments 1250 points
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739 comments

[−] NikolaNovak 58d ago
I have a potentially silly question, and obviously naive - but why so many drawn guns? Fun music videos aside, what was the background here? Were they coming in on a Massive gang fortress? Or are all the stereotypes of American police forces true and they just come guns a-blazing all the time? I mean, that wasn't even police officers with hand guns, they have army-like guys with massive automatic rifles, and they seem to keep them drawn and hair triggered throughout the search? :O

(on aside, I do enjoy watching British crime procedural shows as contrast, where seemingly nobody has guns and they have to call in a special unit if they actually need somebody with a handgun)

[−] looofooo0 58d ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oponIfu5L3Y

This is the video in question, police again falling trap to the Streisand effect.

[−] maerF0x0 58d ago
They tell us over and over again that we should have no expectation of privacy or not being filmed in public. Well, IMO they should not have any expectation of privacy or not being filmed when on private property and conducting the work _that we pay for_. They work for us.
[−] postalcoder 58d ago
It gives me immeasurable delight seeing afroman at the top of HN.

Love me some freedom, sweet soulful music, and pie in the face of bad cops.

Dang/Tom, please don't downrank this. America needs this win.

[−] BLKNSLVR 58d ago
Pretty funny, worth seeing at least once to be able to reference it at appropriate times.

Having had my house raided, I love this. Police incompetence should be exposed at all opportunities with the hope that it makes some small amount of difference to future competence.

[−] duxup 58d ago

> In one of the music videos, “Will You Help Me Repair My Door,” surveillance footage shows officers swinging open a gate, kicking down a door, and roaming armed around a living room and a kitchen.

>The other, “Lemon Pound Cake,” shows one of the officers, gun in hand, pausing briefly in Mr. Foreman’s kitchen by a cake inside a glass cloche. “It made the sheriff want to put down his gun and cut him a slice,” Mr. Foreman sings in the song.

The man has a sense of humor.

[−] Reubachi 58d ago
"Mr. Foreman was not at home during the 2002 police raid, but a security camera system and his wife, using her cellphone, recorded the “faces and bodies” of the officers while they were on the property, according to the lawsuit"

"2002" New York Times, everyone.

Props to afroman for his perfect demeanor/attitude during all this.

[−] snackbroken 58d ago
Going on the stand and stating that you "don't know" whether the allegedly defamatory statements you are suing over are true or not is a... bold legal strategy.
[−] fny 58d ago
I highly recommend people watch video from the trial--specifically the officer testimonies. It's absurd this lawsuit was even fit for trial.
[−] hollywood_court 58d ago
Those cops embarrassed themselves. Especially that one lady that was faux crying. Shameful behavior from the largest gang in the US.
[−] throwa356262 58d ago
Serious question: how come the police have not paid for the damage they caused?
[−] purpleidea 58d ago
The thing I don't understand is why it isn't a felony for the police the disable the surveillance cameras! That alone should be a crime. I get that you need search warrants and protections, but you shouldn't be able to suppress the evidence of your work, since it's common for police to steal, plant evidence, or destroy property.
[−] NoSalt 58d ago

>

"On March 14, 2023, seven Adams County police officers sued Foreman, alleging that his use of the video of the raid invaded their privacy."

THEIR privacy?!?!? Their privacy ... in his home? This is the most ridiculous claim I have ever heard.

[−] sanitycheck 58d ago
I don't understand how they found nothing in the raid, wouldn't they normally bring drugs with them to plant? If they forgot those that's a whole new level of police incompetence.
[−] lotrjohn 58d ago
I was gonnna click the link, but then I got high.
[−] debo_ 58d ago
Is the NY Post some kind of National Enquirer analogue? This article reads like it was written by a grade school child trying to emulate the voice of an villainous news reporter.
[−] maerF0x0 58d ago
They tell us over and over again that we should have no expectation of privacy or not being filmed in public. Well, IMO they should not have any expectation of privacy or not being filmed when on private property.
[−] culi 58d ago
Interestingly enough this is not the first time cops have invaded a famous rapper's house and the rapper proceeded to make a music video out of the footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nfVWiXY3WY

Neighbors by J. Cole

[−] bdcravens 58d ago
Gotta say I love Afroman's choice of courtroom atire.
[−] iamacyborg 58d ago
I’ve had “lemon pound cake” stuck in my head all morning thanks to this
[−] subpixel 58d ago
I haven’t found any information about what cause the police had, why a warrant was issued, etc.

I’m not suggesting suspicion has merit, but given all the idiocy I’m wondering what other forms of chicanery may have taken place to get a warrant.

[−] lenerdenator 58d ago
Y'know, officers, if you'd shown up to his house after the raid and apologized and offered to buy the guy a new door of his choosing and the installation for it, we're probably not having this conversation.