Below is my column on Fox.com on the victory this week of Joseph E. Foreman, aka “Afroman,” in defending a lawsuit brought by police officers who raided his house. While perhaps lost in the theatrics, the Foreman verdict was a victory for free speech in protecting the right to parody government officials.
Here is the column:
When singer Joseph E. Foreman took the stand recently in Ohio, his message, like his lyrics, was hardly subtle. Indeed, counsel may have been unsure whether to examine or to hoist him. The rapper, known as “Afroman,” appeared in a suit modeled after an American flag with matching flag-patterned sunglasses. He lashed out at the seven police officers who raided his home and then sued him for publicly mocking them. He insisted that he was the virtual embodiment of the First Amendment in all of its glory.
A jury agreed, at least insofar as finding him protected in his parody and public portrayal of the officers.
Almost three years ago, I wrote about the case and expressed deep skepticism about the legal viability of the case in light of free speech protections for filming and criticizing public officials.
Foreman, 51, became famous for a humorous rap song, “Because I Got High.” Later, he became even more famous after the released security camera footage of officers breaking down the door to his home and holding him and his family at bay with drawn weapons. While the warrant was granted to look for evidence of kidnapping, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, they found nothing.
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