Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Jovon Ruth Pete) arrives at Michael Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl Party 2022 held at 3Labs on February 12, 2022 in Culver City, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA/AP ImagesA pre-trial hearing in Tory Lanez’s felony assault case involving the July 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion was postponed to April 5. The postponement came as Megan responded to false online rumors regarding Lanez’s alleged culpability, which were posted to social media before today’s hearing had even begun.
“Court ain’t even started so why yall ready to start lying?” wrote Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete) after a YouTuber claimed that “Tory Lanez’ DNA was NOT found” on the weapon allegedly used to shoot Megan in the feet.
“Yall got breaking news 15 minutes before court started and nobody has even been called in yet?? Yall tryna win a social media campaign this is MY REAL LIFE!” Pete wrote on Instagram Stories. She later added, “Only thing that happened in court today was it got pushed to April 5th.. but yall will get a lie trending.. Imagine how I feel.. reliving this shit every day publicly. It hurts. I’m so tired.”
Lanez’s attorney Shawn Holley, said in court, “We are in the process of actually retaining an expert with respect to DNA. It is our hope that we will be able to review & confirm the LAPD’s analysis, which from our standpoint was favorable.” Wednesday’s pretrial hearing comes more than a month after Lanez’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea at an arraignment. In December, LAPD Detective Ryan Stogner testified that Pete said Lanez allegedly shouted, “Dance, bitch!” at her before shooting.
Lanez was formally charged on Oct. 8, 2020, with one count of assaulting Pete with a semiautomatic firearm in a manner that “personally inflicted great bodily injury,” and one count of carrying a concealed, loaded, and unregistered firearm in a vehicle. A protective order barred him from contacting Pete either in person or otherwise.
The “SKAT” rapper pleaded not guilty on Nov. 18, 2020, and was allowed to remain free on $190,000 bail. He’s facing a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in prison if convicted as charged.
Additional reporting by Nancy Dillon
10cc drummer Paul Burgess has announced that he is leaving the band because the demands of touring have become too much for him.
The 75-year-old musician, who also spent time performing with Jethro Tull, Camel, Magna Carta, and The Icicle Works, has chosen to walk away from the legendary rock group after more than five decades.
He shared: “After so many wonderful years with 10cc, I must admit that the rigours of touring are no longer manageable for me as I get older, and I feel it’s time to let go of the long hours in airports and endless travel on buses.
“I’m not planning to stop playing altogether. I will still perform but at a pace that feels right, working alongside old friends and a new group of fellow musicians called The Guilty Men.”
Frontman Graham Gouldman confessed that it will feel unusual to perform without his “longest-running musical associate.”
He explained: “When Paul and I first joined forces in 10cc, we never could have imagined that we’d still be at it after 30 years, let alone 52.
“Paul has been my longest musical partner and it will feel different to turn around and see another drummer, but I completely understand why he no longer wants to sit on a plane for 14 hours or wake up in a new hotel every day for weeks at a time.”
Ben Stone, who has previously played with Mike and The Mechanics and Bonnie Tyler, will be taking over on drums.
Paul, who had several runs with 10cc after joining in 1973, performed his final show with the I’m Not In Love band in Alexandria, Virginia this past September.
The group is set to continue their And Another Bloody Greatest Hits Tour in the UK next year.
