Soulja Boy's sexual assault civil trial has begun in Santa Monica, California.
The trial commenced on Thursday, with the prosecution giving their opening statements, according to a news release. A woman claiming to have worked with Soulja as his personal assistant accused him of sexual battery, rape, assault, false imprisonment, emotional distress, unpaid overtime, and a hostile work environment in a lawsuit filed back in 2021.
The woman, listed as Jane Doe, said she began working for Soulja as a personal assistant in 2018 and claimed within the first month of employment, the rapper sent her photos of his penis, but they developed a romantic relationship. She also claimed the rapper, born DeAndre Cortez Way, physically and sexually assaulted her, including kicking, punching, spitting, and threatening to kill her.
“On one occasion, defendant Way punched plaintiff so hard in the head, she lost consciousness, only to wake up in a locked bedroom with no mattress, food or water,” the lawsuit reads. “On another occasion when plaintiff tried to quit and leave defendant Way, defendant Way locked her in a room for approximately three days against her will with no hot water until she was coerced into not leaving.”
The woman's lawsuit also claimed Soulja pushed her out of his car, punched her in the head on ten different occasions, and raped her numerous times. She also said when she tried to leave, Soulja Boy locked her in a room for three days.
Soulja has since denied the allegations, telling TMZ in 2021, "I vehemently and unequivocally deny these allegations. I am in contact with my legal team and the appropriate legal action will be taken against these lies."
These aren't the only accusations Soulja has been hit with. He was accused of physical and sexual assault by ex-girlfriends Nia Riley and Kayla Myers. In 2021, Riley told blogger Tasha K that she suffered a miscarriage after Soulja kicked her in the stomach and threatened her with a gun.
"It took her years to escape the psychological and physical grasp of her abuser," her lawyer, Neama Rahmani, told USA TODAY at the time.
