Rapper Soulja Boy Ordered to Pay $4 Million in Civil Lawsuit for Emotional Distress and Sexual Harassment

Soulja Boy

A California jury has ordered rapper Soulja Boy to pay more than $4 million in compensatory damages to a former personal assistant who accused him of sexual harassment, emotional abuse, and failure to pay wages. The 34-year-old artist, whose legal name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was found liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and non-payment of wages. He was cleared of allegations of false imprisonment and constructive discharge.

The plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, filed the civil lawsuit detailing a pattern of abuse and misconduct while employed by Way. She began working for him in late 2018 under an agreement that he would pay her $500 per week for tasks including cleaning, cooking, handling travel logistics, carrying personal belongings, and styling his hair. The agreement was never honored, and she was not paid for her services.

The lawsuit described how the professional relationship evolved into a romantic one that became abusive. According to the complaint, Way raped her multiple times, beginning in February 2019, after which he expressed remorse and gave her $1,000. The plaintiff alleged that she was emotionally manipulated and believed she was in love with him despite the abuse.

One of the most serious incidents described in the lawsuit occurred in August 2020. The plaintiff stated that Way assaulted her so violently she believed she would die. She lost consciousness and awoke on the grass outside his home, then fled without retrieving her personal belongings.

Doe claimed that the repeated abuse caused “numerous and serious physical and sexual injuries” and left her in fear for her life. Her legal team sought both compensatory and punitive damages. The jury awarded more than $4 million in compensatory damages during the trial held in Santa Monica. The next phase of the case will determine whether punitive damages will also be imposed.

Attorneys representing Jane Doe expressed satisfaction with the jury's decision and called it a step forward in holding perpetrators accountable in the music industry. One attorney stated that the verdict marked the beginning of justice for Soulja Boy’s victims and for others who have experienced similar abuse.