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Jury Clears Afroman in Deputies’ Defamation Suit Over Raid Videos

Jurors rejected the Adams County deputies’ $3.9 million claims, reinforcing First Amendment protection for Afroman’s satirical use of his own surveillance footage.

Overview

  • An Adams County, Ohio jury found in favor of Afroman on all counts, concluding the three-day trial with a complete defense verdict after about six hours of deliberation.
  • The case stemmed from a 2022 search that alleged drug trafficking and kidnapping but produced no probative evidence and no charges, according to prosecutors.
  • Deputies claimed Afroman’s posts and songs caused harassment, ridicule and career harm as they sought roughly $3.9 million in damages, which jurors rejected.
  • Afroman used home-security and in-home video to create viral tracks and merchandise, including Lemon Pound Cake and Will You Help Me Repair My Door, drawing millions of views.
  • Following widespread coverage of the verdict, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania reported a flood of misdirected calls from people confusing it with the Ohio agency.