Cops raided Afroman’s home, then sued him for using footage in music videos
Enlarge / Singer-songwriter Joseph Foreman, better known as "Afroman," clowns around poolside at an Orange County hotel. (credit: Don Bartletti / Contributor | Los Angeles Times)
Seven Ohio cops who raided a rapper known as Afroman's house last summer are now suing the rapper after Afroman made music videos using footage from the raid. The Adams County Sheriff's Office police officers allege that the rapper is profiting off unauthorized use of their likenesses, not only in the music videos but also on merchandise created after Afroman's social media posts and music videos went viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Cops suing say they've been subjected to death threats, ridicule, reputation loss, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional distress, and other alleged harms and will continue to suffer unless the court forces Afroman to destroy all the merchandise and posts bearing their likenesses.
Ars couldn't immediately reach Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, for comment, but Vice talked to him in January. Afroman told Vice that after the raid, he suffered, too, losing gigs and feeling powerless. He decided to create music videos for songs called Lemon Pound Cake," Why You Disconnecting My Video Camera," and Will You Help Me Repair My Door" to reclaim his good name.