Soulja Boy’s latest court battle has shed more light on his financial status.
The 34-year-old rapper — born DeAndre Cortez Way — was found liable Thursday in a civil trial involving his former assistant. The woman accused Soulja of assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress during their two-year relationship. She was ultimately awarded more than $4 million in compensatory damages.
Shortly before the verdict, the Chicago-born artist took the stand and was pressed about his financial situation. Legal affairs reporter Meghann Cuniff wrote that a lawyer had asked Soulja Boy if he was worth $100 million — a question that caused the defendant to laugh.
“Daaaamn,” Soulja Boy reportedly responded. “Look, I don’t want to get y’all confused here in this courtroom.”
Soulja Boy was also questioned about his rights to “Crank That,” his wildly successful 2007 debut single. He told the court he gets royalties from the track but couldn’t provide an exact figure. The plaintiff’s lawyer then referenced Soulja Boy’s past comments about his “Crank That” royalties, questioning if it truly racked in $15 million to $20 million.
“I’m not sure,” he responded.
“I’m pretty sure I hear your music when I go to a baseball game,” the lawyer added.
While Soulja Boy acknowledged that his music was popular, he claimed the civil suit took a heavy toll on his finances (even before the $4 million verdict was announced).
“This trial has taken a lot of my money,” he said. “As far as lawyer bills. This whole trial’s been real costly.”
Soulja Boy claimed he doesn’t have health insurance and that the plaintiff’s accusations have led to multiple gig cancelations, including a performance at Coachella.
The rapper addressed the verdict outside the courthouse, suggesting the court battle was far from over.
“I want to make it clear that I’m innocent,” he said, as reported by Courthouse News Service. “I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed.”
He also took issue with the plaintiff’s anonymity, saying it gave her an unfair advantage.
“Keeping these individuals anonymous while I’m forced to face public scrutiny creates an unequal playing field,” he said. “I believe this entire process has been tainted by a system that is not designed to protect the rights of the accused.”