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Trial Enters Second Day with Emotional Deputy Testimony
The civil trial of Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) entered its second day on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Adams County, Ohio, with emotional testimony from deputies who claim they were humiliated by music videos the rapper created using footage from a 2022 raid on his home .
The lawsuit, filed in March 2023 by two sergeants, a detective, and four deputies, alleges Afroman used their likeness without permission and profited off their images in videos for songs including “Lemon Pound Cake” and “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” . The deputies claim they suffered “humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment, and loss of reputation” after the videos went viral .
Deputy Breaks Down in Court
One of the most dramatic moments occurred when Deputy Sheriff Lisa Phillips took the stand. As Afroman’s 13-minute music video “Lick ’em Low Lisa” played in the courtroom, Phillips burst into tears while recounting the humiliation she faced . Phillips testified that she was called into work on her day off to execute the warrant and never expected to become the subject of a viral music video .
Sergeant Randolph Walters also testified, claiming that Afroman’s lies in the music videos directly impacted his family. “I’ve been with my wife for 28 years. She didn’t have an affair with Mr. Foreman. She didn’t make my daughter with Mr. Foreman, but now my family has to be harmed because of straight up, 100% lies,” Walters said .
Afroman Takes the Stand
Afroman himself testified on Tuesday, delivering a scathing response to the deputies’ claims. Dressed in a flamboyant red, white, and blue suit with matching sunglasses, the 51-year-old rapper maintained that he was simply exercising his freedom of speech .
“All of this is their fault,” Foreman said during his testimony. “If they hadn’t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit, I would not know their names, they wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs … my money would still be intact” .
The rapper explained that he created the videos to raise money for repairs after the raid caused “significant damage” to his home, including a broken door and disconnected surveillance cameras . He also reiterated claims that $400 went missing from cash confiscated during the raid—an amount the sheriff’s office later called a “miscount” after an outside investigation .
Afroman Continues Trolling Outside Court
Despite the ongoing trial, Afroman has not stopped mocking the deputies on social media. Hours after Deputy Phillips’ tearful testimony, he posted an expletive-laden music clip on Instagram eviscerating her, captioned: “Where was these tears when she was standing in my yard with a loaded AR-15 ready to Swiss cheese me?” .
He also released a new diss track on Sunday, March 15, titled “Batteram Hymn of The Police Whistle Blower,” and followed it up with another video called “Randy Walter’s a Son of a B***h” after court was adjourned on Tuesday .
The Backstory: A Raid That Found Nothing
The case stems from an August 21, 2022, raid on Afroman’s home in Adams County, Ohio, based on a warrant for drug trafficking and kidnapping . Afroman was in Chicago at the time and learned about the raid from neighbors who called to tell him “the police were all over my property” .
No illegal material was found, and Afroman was never charged with any crime . However, the deputies sued after he released videos using footage captured by his own security cameras .
What’s Next
The trial is now entering its third day, with Afroman’s defense team preparing to present their side of the case . The central question before the court is whether the rapper’s use of the footage constitutes protected free speech or an unlawful exploitation of the deputies’ likenesses.
Afroman summarized his position simply: “I have freedom of speech. I’m a rapper. I entertain. I entertain for a living like you practice law for a living, so I have to go to work” .
