While the rest of the industry has largely kept its distance from Tory Lanez since his 2022 conviction, Young M.A. is making no apologies about where she stands. The Brooklyn rapper put Lanez on her newly released album “KWEEN,” then stepped up to the microphone on HOT 97’s Mornings With Mero to explain exactly why. No hedging, no PR speak. Just real.
“I support him. Free that guy.” — Young M.A., HOT 97 Mornings With Mero
That statement alone sent the internet into overdrive. But it turns out Young M.A. is far from alone. A growing number of women in and around hip-hop have publicly shown love to Lanez — whether through social media campaigns, TV appearances, or letters to the judge. Here’s the full rundown.
Young M.A. talks about her latest album “Kween” and a song featuring Tory Lanez 💿 pic.twitter.com/4SAGkKWYXx
— HOT 97 (@HOT97) May 29, 2026
Young M.A. Breaks Down The “KWEEN” Collab — And She’s Not Taking It Back
Young M.A. tapped Tory Lanez for the dancehall-leaning track “Gyal Dem Ryte” off her new album “KWEEN.” When the collaboration raised eyebrows, she didn’t flinch. During her HOT 97 appearance, she explained the pick was purely about sound — and about loyalty.
I f**k with Tory. That’s peoples,” she said. “I’ve known Tory for a couple years now, and I’ve always been a fan of his music.”
The Brooklyn MC made clear that Lanez’s ability to tap into a Caribbean-influenced sound was exactly what the record needed.
“Everybody know, all the bros know: we put on Tory, bam, we go up,” she said. “And I like his sound, and I felt like he was just the perfect person for it, because I know he can get in that…bag.”
And when asked about his situation? She didn’t soften a single word.
“And, you know, I support him. Free that guy.”
The Crime That Started It All: What Happened the Night Megan Thee Stallion Was Shot
On July 12, 2020, Megan Thee Stallion was shot in the foot after exiting an SUV following an argument at a party hosted at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home. Tory Lanez — born Daystar Peterson — was in the vehicle. He denied pulling the trigger.
The case went to trial in December 2022. A jury convicted Lanez on three felony counts: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. In August 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is currently serving time at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo and is eligible for parole in August 2029.
In her victim impact statement, Megan did not mince words: “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace. Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”
In May 2025, Lanez was stabbed 14 times in prison by a fellow inmate. His legal team subsequently held a press conference claiming new evidence — including an alleged confession from Kelsey Harris, Megan’s former best friend, who was present that night. Megan’s attorney, Alex Spiro, dismissed the claims, saying Lanez’s team “can’t keep a story straight” and called it a “sad attempt” to rehash old evidence and sway public opinion. The press conference triggered a Change.org petition calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Lanez, which amassed over 250,000 signatures.
Amber Rose Has Been The Most Vocal Female Voice In The “Free Tory” Movement
Of all the women who have come to Tory Lanez’s defense, Amber Rose has been the loudest and most relentless. She went on national television, appeared on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show, shared the Change.org petition on Instagram, and personally connected Florida Congresswoman Rep. Anna Paulina Luna to the case.
On Instagram, Rose was blunt: “FREE TORY!!! He’s innocent his DNA WAS NOT ON THE GUN AT ALL!!! Sign now!” She also framed her stance as bigger than fandom: “This isn’t about music, gender or popularity — it’s about justice. @torylanez is someone’s son, he is a father. If he was in fact wrongly convicted he should be pardoned immediately.”
In her NewsNation interview, Rose said Lanez called her personally from prison and laid out his version of events:
I’m advocating for Tory Lanez because the evidence shows that he’s innocent. He deserves to be pardoned by Governor Gavin Newsom. He’s 100 percent exonerated from the gun, and for that alone, he should be home with his family.” — Amber Rose, NewsNation
Rose also disputed the infamous apology text Lanez sent to Kelsey Harris — a key piece of evidence at trial — claiming: “The sorry was not for what people think it was for.” She added that after hearing Lanez’s full account directly, she “now understands” what the message was really about.
Amber Rose Reveals How Tory Lanez Called Her A Year After Being Locked Up & How She Helped Form The Team That Is Advocating For His Release On Sneako’s Stream#AmberRose #ToryLanez #Sneako
pic.twitter.com/KtUSK5G7R2— Real1Of1TV (@Real1of1TV) June 10, 2025
Iggy Azalea Wrote The Judge A Letter — Then Tried To Walk It Back
Before Lanez was sentenced in August 2023, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea was among more than 70 people who submitted letters of support to Judge David Herriford. When the letter was read aloud in open court, Azalea took to X to publicly distance herself — insisting she “never intended to publicly comment” and had been told the letter was for the judge’s eyes only.
“I don’t ‘support’ anyone. The whole thing is full of oddities. My letter never mentioned anything in regard to what happened that night.” — Iggy Azalea, via X
But the content of her letter, as summarized by the judge, asked for a sentence that was “transformational, not life-destroying” — words that spoke for themselves regardless of the clarification.
The Bigger Picture: Why Are Women In Hip-Hop Going To Bat For Tory?
The pattern here is hard to ignore. While the mainstream conversation has largely centered on male voices — Drake hinting at disbelief on “Circo Loco,” Kodak Black, Chris Brown, and Ye all pushing the petition — it’s the women who have made the most noise in this latest chapter.
Young M.A. isn’t just endorsing Lanez with a social media post. She put him on a record. She stepped in front of a HOT 97 microphone and said the words out loud. That’s a different kind of statement — one that costs something.
Amber Rose has arguably gone further than anyone in the entire “Free Tory” movement, leveraging her platform, personal relationships with politicians, and national television appearances to actively push for a pardon.
And Iggy Azalea — regardless of how she tried to spin her letter afterward — went on record with a judge at sentencing asking for leniency.
What it all adds up to is a fracture that shows no signs of healing. As Megan Thee Stallion continues to build her career post-trial, the conversation around her case keeps getting reignited — and it’s increasingly women, not just men, doing the reigniting.
Tory Lanez is eligible for parole in August 2029. This story has a lot more chapters to go.
