By: Natasha Archary
Kanye West is being sued for $250 million by George Floyd’s family for his insensitive and false statements made on Noreaga’s (N.O.R.E) podcast, Drink Champs.
George Floyd’s murder in 2020 sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, after a Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck, ultimately suffocating him.
Video footage of the incident created a global storm, with massive support from sports stars and celebrities who chose to take the knee against racism and discrimination.
In the podcast however, Kanye said that Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose and not from officer Derek Chauvin’s knee on his neck.
“They hit him with the fentanyl. If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that.”
Kanye who had donated $2.5 million to George Floyd’s family after the ordeal, towards Floyd’s daughter, Gianna’s education, is now being sued by the family for $250 million.
The family issued Kanye with a cease and desist letter by their lawyers, over his “repugnant attempt to discount George Floyd’s life and profit from his inhuman death.”
“During the podcast interview, Kanye West stated malicious falsehoods about George Floyd to profit from My Floyd’s horrendous death and his family’s trauma.
The mother of George Floyd’s daughter, intends to file the multimillion-dollar lawsuit on the basis of harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress.”
Sizwe Dhlomo asked listeners to share whether the family should be suing Kanye West considering his generous donation to the family after Floyd’s death.
Many listeners agreed with the Drive presenter’s sentiments that it didn’t matter what Kanye had done in the past, he needs to be held accountable for his reckless behaviour.
Sizwe also suggested the family hold Noreaga responsible and sue him in the process, although the podcaster has removed the episode.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Drive:
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