A California jury has found rapper Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, liable in a civil lawsuit filed by his former personal assistant, identified as Jane Doe. The jury awarded her over $4 million in compensatory damages for claims including sexual assault, physical abuse, and emotional distress. 

The lawsuit, initiated in January 2021, alleged that Doe began working for Soulja Boy in December 2018 and that their professional relationship quickly turned abusive. She claimed that between 2019 and 2020, she endured repeated physical assaults, sexual violence, threats, and dehumanizing treatment while working as his live-in assistant. 

During the three-week trial in Santa Monica, Doe provided emotional testimony detailing the abuse she suffered, including being punched unconscious and locked in a room without basic necessities. The jury found Soulja Boy liable for assault, sexual battery, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and failure to pay wages. However, he was cleared of false imprisonment and creating a hostile work environment. 

Soulja Boy has denied all allegations, asserting that the claims are fabricated and motivated by financial gain. His defense team plans to challenge the verdict, stating that the evidence does not support the outcome. 

This case is not the first legal issue for Soulja Boy. In 2023, he was ordered to pay $471,800 to an ex-girlfriend in a separate case involving allegations of kidnapping and assault. 

The current verdict is seen by the plaintiff’s legal team as a step toward justice for victims in the music industry, highlighting the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their celebrity status.