“I View Myself As A Survivor”: Megan Thee Stallion Reflects On Trauma And Recovery After Being Shot By Tory Lanez
Megan Thee Stallion has opened up about the traumatic experience of being shot by her close friend Tory Lanez. In an exclusive interview with ELLE, the 28-year-old singer revealed how she has coped with the aftermath of the incident, which occurred in July 2020, and how she plans to move forward.
Megan, whose real name is Megan Pete, explained that she views herself as a survivor, having been through an unimaginable ordeal. In December 2022, Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was found guilty of shooting Megan in the feet after an argument at a party in Los Angeles. The Savage hitmaker had to undergo surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet, and according to her, the incident left her physically and emotionally scarred.
In the interview, Megan recounted how Tory had fired the gun and shouted at her to dance after they got into an argument that escalated.
Megan said that she had tried to keep the incident private, but once it became public, everything changed. According to her, her name and reputation were dragged through the mud by Tory Lanez, who tried to discredit her version of events. Despite this, Megan remained strong and continued to perform, release music, and interact with fans on social media.
“Many thought I was inexplicably healed because I was still smiling through the pain, still posting on social media, still performing, still dancing, and still releasing music. The truth is that I started falling into a depression,” she stated.
However, she also admitted that behind the scenes, she was struggling with depression and anxiety.
The guilty verdict, which was announced on December 23, 2022, was a vindication for Megan. She said that she never doubted that the truth would prevail, but the victory was more significant than just for her. It was a victory for all women who have been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them.
As a Black woman who came forward about her attack, Megan acknowledged how painful the experience has been. Despite everything, she is now in a better place and is starting to heal through exercises like journaling and praying.
“I view myself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable,” she stated.
While the Grammy Award-winner is aware of the fact that the physical and mental scars from the ordeal will always sting, she is taking the appropriate steps to resume her normal life.
While Megan is excited to get back into music, she has made it clear that this will be the final time she speaks publicly about the incident. She wants to change the narrative and focus on the future, rather than reliving the trauma of the past. She said that she is more than just her trauma and that this is a rebirth of a happier and healthier her.
