Soulja Boy Vows to Appeal After $4 Million Civil Rape Verdict

American rapper Soulja Boy has vowed to appeal after a California jury found him liable for rape and ordered him to pay $4 million in damages to a woman who accused him of sexual assault and abuse.

The woman, whose identity remains protected under anonymity, alleged that the rapper – whose real name is DeAndre Way – assaulted her during their relationship, subjecting her to repeated acts of violence, including sexual battery and emotional distress. The jury sided with the plaintiff following a civil trial.

Speaking to Courtroom News Service after the verdict, Soulja Boy expressed frustration over the financial toll of the trial and insisted on his innocence. “This trial has taken a lot of my money – lawyer bills and lost business opportunities. It’s been real costly,” he said. “I want to make it clear that I’m innocent. I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed.”

He also criticised the legal process, particularly the anonymity granted to the plaintiff. “Keeping these individuals anonymous while I’m forced to face public scrutiny creates an unequal playing field,” he said, adding that the proceedings were “tainted by a system that is not designed to protect the rights of the accused.”

Soulja Boy’s legal team echoed his sentiments. His attorney released a statement arguing that the evidence presented at trial did not support the verdict. “It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial,” the statement read. “Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and fight for a just outcome.”

Meanwhile, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ron Zambrano, had urged the jury during closing arguments to consider the lasting trauma his client suffered. “He raped her. He punched her. He kicked her. He cut her. He pointed a Draco gun at her,” Zambrano said. “If you believe her, give her everything.”

Zambrano also dismissed the rapper’s courtroom demeanor as a calculated attempt to sway the jury. “It was a four-week performance,” he said. “The glasses, the suit – it’s all an act.”

Though the plaintiff initially sought $73.6 million in damages, the jury ultimately awarded $4 million in compensation. Soulja Boy has not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations.