Afroman, also known as Joseph Foreman, is 51 as of 2026. The rapper appeared in court on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Adams County, Ohio, as part of a civil trial linked to his 2022 Lemon Pound Cake music video. The case has been based on the videotape, which was captured when his home was raided on August 21, 2022, and subsequently released as a video and posted on his online platforms.
On December 29, 2022, the Lemon Pound Cake video was released, which included footage of surveillance cameras taken in August 2022, during the search. The video captured officers inside the premises and reported damages during the entry. The video quickly went viral following its release, with its application of legitimate raid footage being the foundation of the March 2023 lawsuit.
The legal dispute started with the first complaint having been submitted on March 13, 2023. The case was brought up by seven officers who work in the Adams County Sheriff’s Office including deputies, sergeants, and a detective who alleged that their photos could be reused without their authorization.
In the following several months, the case underwent several developments, including being advocated by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a brief on April 19, 2023, stating that the rapper’s work was under the protection of the speech.
Afroman testifies in court as lawsuit over 2022 video proceeds to trial
On March 13, 2023, seven officers of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office filed the civil case against Afroman. The complaint claimed defamation and invasion of privacy, and there were claims relating to the utilization of their identities in a commercial setting, after the release of the December 2022 video.
Following legal filings in 2023, including an amended complaint filed on May 10, 2023, the case was advanced by a judge on October 10, 2023, deciding that major claims, namely defamation and invasion of privacy could be carried to trial.
The trial process began with jury selection on March 16, 2026, in Adams County Common Pleas Court. On March 17, 2026, Afroman appeared in court to testify about having used the surveillance video of the raid that occurred on August 21, 2022.
As per WCPO-TV, during his testimony, Afroman defended his actions, stating he was exercising his “right of freedom of speech as an American.” He added, “all of this is their fault.”
The artist continued, testifying:
“If they hadn’t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit. I would not know their names, they wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs … my money would still be intact.”
He also stated that officers caused damage to his property during the raid, including breaking his door, and claimed that money taken during the search was not fully returned.
In court, Afroman stood by his use of the videos, testifying:
“I had to do what I had to do to repair the damage they brought to my house.”
Court filings from the deputies state that they experienced “humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation” after the video and related posts were published. The allegations also mention the use of their images in other content published after December 2022.
The case is in progress with Adams County, though the court will decide whether the defamation and invasion of privacy issues will be considered according to the legal threshold based on the evidence presented.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Edited by Abu Amjad Khan
