The defense tried to use lifestyle against her. Defense attorney George Mgdesyan grilled Megan about why she “continued to party” with Lanez after the shooting. This is a common abuse myth: Why would a victim stay near their abuser? The answer, which trauma experts have explained endlessly, is that abuse creates a traumatic bond. Lanez’s lifestyle—the parties, the studio sessions, the shared friends—formed a cage that Megan couldn’t easily escape.
The entertainment industry is finally, painfully learning that a “lifestyle brand” can be a cover for coercive control. The same cameras that capture champagne showers can also capture a woman bleeding from her feet. The same tweets that promote new music can also be used to gaslight millions. facialabuse tory lane
The abuse allegations did not begin with the shooting. Prior to July 2020, multiple women in the industry quietly discussed a pattern of intimidation, psychological manipulation, and public shaming. Lanez’s lifestyle—constant partying, unpredictable mood swings, and a possessive attitude toward women in his orbit—created a perfect storm. When you control the environment (the studio, the afterparty, the tour bus), and you control the entertainment (the music, the leaks, the social media narrative), you control the people inside it. On July 12, 2020, after a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s house in Hollywood Hills, an argument erupted inside a vehicle. Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete) exited the SUV. According to her testimony, Lanez yelled, “Dance, bitch!” and shot at her feet, wounding her. The aftermath unleashed a torrent of abuse that was arguably more insidious than the initial act. The defense tried to use lifestyle against her