# Rapper Afroman uses baseless cop-raid footage in music videos, is sued by cops **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 24, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594 "2023-03-24T15:15:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/1 "2023-03-24T15:15:26Z")
So rapper Afroman suffered a baseless raid (for narcotics and kidnapping) that resulted in no charges, and used footage of the raid in two music videos. Deputies from the sheriff’s department decided to sue because their faces were in the footage and they say they suffered harassment and emotional damage. Here’s the news article: > **[Afroman sued by law enforcement officers who raided his home](https://www.fox19.com/2023/03/22/afroman-sued-by-law-enforcment-officers-who-raided-his-home/)** > > Seven sheriff’s office employees filed the suit claiming, among other things, that Afroman invaded their privacy. Here are the two music videos: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oponIfu5L3Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Afroman - Will You Help Me Repair My Door (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oponIfu5L3Y) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9xxK5yyecRo/maxresdefault.jpg "Afroman - Lemon Pound Cake (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xxK5yyecRo) Fuck these cops. Good for Afroman. The videos are hilarious too. I hope the judge throws out the case and awards Afroman damages for legal bills. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/2 "2023-03-24T15:19:23Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I hope the judge throws out the case and awards Afroman damages for legal bills. And to repair his door. > [@](#): > > In a bizarre turn of events unrelated to the civil suit, the sheriff’s office [appeared to come up hundreds of dollars short](https://www.fox19.com/2022/11/30/sheriffs-office-comes-up-400-short-returning-cash-afroman-after-home-raid/) returning cash seized from Foreman’s property. An independent investigation by Ohio BCI [resolved the matter last month](http://www.fox19.com/2023/02/16/investigation-into-afromans-alleged-missing-money-concludes/), concluding deputies had miscounted the money during the raid itself. And the money they stole from him. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/3 "2023-03-24T15:25:22Z")
Meanwhile, of course, they’re also Streissanding themselves. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/4 "2023-03-24T15:30:27Z")
I do wonder exactly what kind of legal issue is involved here, and if they have any sort of case that their likeness was used. If so, I say replace all the faces with pig faces, and keep the videos as is otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/5 "2023-03-24T15:31:26Z")
Give him a break. He was high! ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/6 "2023-03-24T15:37:42Z")
Now I’m getting SLAPPed and I know why-y! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/7 "2023-03-24T17:25:45Z")
He is making money through the use of their images without permission or compensation. They should have the same rights as any other person in that situation. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > If so, I say replace all the faces with pig faces, and keep the videos as is otherwise. Am I actually reading this?! That term is from 50 years ago, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/8 "2023-03-24T17:31:17Z")
He’s using their images as they appeared in his own home. It’s kind of hard to argue that someone else is violating your privacy, when you were in their home. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/9 "2023-03-24T17:37:40Z")
They were in his house without his permission, and acting as official agents. IANAL, but ISTM that it ought to be legal under the first amendment to use footage of official agents in one’s own home for satirical purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/10 "2023-03-24T17:46:22Z")
A lawyer I’m not, LOL, but I’d like to think that, as police officers, they would know enough to run it past the city’s lawyers and not go off “half cocked” and embarrass themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/11 "2023-03-24T17:47:12Z")
Oh, we’d all like to think that. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/12 "2023-03-24T17:48:00Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > He is making money through the use of their images without permission or compensation. They should have the same rights as any other person in that situation. Okay, so let’s say I break into your home, and you catch me on your security cameras. What rights do you think that I should have over how you use that footage? > [@Jasmine](#): > > Am I actually reading this?! That term is from 50 years ago, isn’t it? Lots of terms come from the past. Are you trying to imply that it is still not in use? If you think that home invaders should have their identities protected, what would _you_ suggest is used to conceal their identities? I guess it could be amusing to replace them all with kitten heads as well. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/13 "2023-03-24T17:50:30Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@Jasmine](#): > > > > Am I actually reading this?! That term is from 50 years ago, isn’t it? > > Lots of terms come from the past. Are you trying to imply that it is still not in use? “Cop” is over 100 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/14 "2023-03-24T17:54:50Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Lots of terms come from the past. Are you trying to imply that it is still not in use? It’s a very derogatory cop-hating term. I’m surprised and disappointed at seeing it used at the SDMB. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > If you think that home invaders should have their identities protected, what would _you_ suggest is used to conceal their identities? “Home invaders” are criminals. These were police officers acting on police orders. Ironically, the people really responsible for screwing that up are safe and anonymous at police headquarters. Pretty unfair and potentially dangerous. The video stirs up hatred against those officers and basically says, “Here they are!” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/15 "2023-03-24T17:58:24Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > It’s a very derogatory cop-hating term. I’m surprised and disappointed at seeing it used at the SDMB. Have you seen what the cops have been up to lately? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/16 "2023-03-24T18:05:19Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Ironically, the people really responsible for screwing that up are safe and anonymous at police headquarters. Maybe the officers should sue those guys. Let’s be fair, it’s going to take a lot of convincing to get me to believe that the team of “public servants” who busted down Afroman’s door and trashed his house are mad at their superiors for ordering them to raid an innocent man’s home. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/17 "2023-03-24T18:06:30Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > It’s a very derogatory cop-hating term. I’m surprised and disappointed at seeing it used at the SDMB. I’m surprised and disappointed whenever cops raid the homes of innocent people as well. (Well, maybe not surprised, but that just makes me _more_ disappointed.) > [@Jasmine](#): > > “Home invaders” are criminals. Home invaders are people who come into your home without your permission. Bonus points when they do so by breaking down your door. > [@Jasmine](#): > > These were police officers acting on police orders. “Just following orders” was deprecated as a valid legal defense over 70 years ago. > [@Jasmine](#): > > Ironically, the people really responsible for screwing that up are safe and anonymous at police headquarters. I mean, there’s nothing stopping these cops from calling out those who gave them the orders to bust down the door of an innocent man. > [@Jasmine](#): > > The video stirs up hatred against those officers and basically says, “Here they are!” I’d say that invading people’s homes is what stirs up hatred. Maybe they should stop doing that, rather than whining about the public finding out about it. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/18 "2023-03-24T18:12:04Z")
What evidence do you have that it was a “baseless search”? The article indicates that it had probable cause but neither provides evidence for that or refutes it. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/19 "2023-03-24T18:14:03Z")
The complete lack of evidence that they found of any sort of wrongdoing on the part of the person whose door they broke down. Whatever “cause” they had was baseless. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594/20 "2023-03-24T18:19:00Z")
I consider baseless to mean, “have no reasonable justification for” This search was unsuccessful, but not necessarily baseless, at least from the information in the article. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-afroman-uses-baseless-cop-raid-footage-in-music-videos-is-sued-by-cops/981594.md?page=2)