Drake Lobbies Newsom to Pardon Tory Lanez—Here’s the Backstory
Oh, joy—Drake’s playing political pundit again, this time campaigning for Tory Lanez’s freedom like he’s running for governor. The 6 God took to Instagram on May 16, 2025, to share a petition urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Lanez, who’s currently serving a 10-year sentence for the December 2023 shooting conviction of Megan Thee Stallion. According to TMZ and Rolling Stone, Drake reposted the petition link with a curt message: “Justice delayed is justice denied. It’s time to let Tory rebuild.” I told you so—celebrities love grandstanding with their followers.
Here’s the reluctant rundown: Tory Lanez was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic handgun after prosecutors argued the shooting in July 2020 left Megan with gunshot wounds. Lanez’s lawyers have already filed appeals, arguing mishandled evidence and jury bias. Now Drake insists Lanez’s talent and transformation deserve a second chance, citing personal growth and community work in the petition’s summary. Fans have poured in tens of thousands of signatures overnight at Change.org (People reports over 75,000 at last count), fueled by hashtags like #FreeTory and #DrakeForJustice.
But let’s be clear—pardons aren’t handed out like golden tickets. A Newsom spokesperson reminded Vanity Fair that each request undergoes intense scrutiny by the state’s Board of Parole and Governor’s pardon advisors. Newsom himself granted just three pardons in 2024, all low-profile cases with overwhelming rehabilitation evidence. The gubernatorial deadline for this batch of requests is August 1, giving critics plenty of time to accuse Drake of leveraging star power for personal drama.
Of course, detractors were quick to mock the effort. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro tweeted, “Next thing you know, celebs will be rewriting the constitution.” Meanwhile, Billboard notes Drake’s recent business ventures with Tory Lanez, including rumored studio collaborations—raising eyebrow emojis across social feeds. Is this loyalty or a PR stunt? You decide.
Whether you stan Drake or side-eye celebrity activism, this petition is officially official. Gov. Newsom’s office says decisions will trickle out by fall, possibly aligned with his re-election strategy. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things. The circus rolls on—stay tuned for the next act.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Rolling Stone, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
