Tory Lanez is being investigated by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office following allegations that the rapper assaulted singer August Alsina following a concert in Chicago over the weekend, Billboard has confirmed.
On Sunday, Alsina posted a photo of himself to Instagram in which he can be seen standing in an elevator with blood coming from his mouth. In the caption, Alsina claims Lanez physically assaulted him after he refused to shake his hand following a show on Saturday night.
“We are aware of the allegations that the defendant attacked artist August Alsina and are investigating these claims,” said the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in a statement to Billboard. “The allegations are serious and will be thoroughly examined.”
Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, is currently out on bail after being charged with shooting Megan Thee Stallion during an argument that occurred after a pool party in the Hollywood Hills in July 2020. The rapper is also facing a gun possession charge connected with the incident.
A video published to Twitter on Monday purporting to document the lead-up and aftermath of the alleged assault appears to show Alsina rebuffing a handshake from Lanez backstage. In the final half of the video, Lanez seems to be celebrating as a man off-camera can be heard saying Lanez “knocked him out.”
The Chicago Police Department tells Billboard they received a report of a “30-ye[a]r-old male” being “punched in the face by a 30-year-old male after exiting a building in the 2300 block of S. Lake Shore Drive” on Saturday at approximately 11:30 p.m. They would not confirm the identities of the two men, citing Chicago P.D. policy. The location cited in the report is seemingly the Arie Crown Theater, where both Lanez and Alsina were billed to perform at comedian Rip Michaels’ Fall Back in Love Comedy & Music Jam on Saturday. Detectives are currently investigating the matter.
An attorney for Lanez did not immediately return Billboard‘s request for comment, though Lanez himself denied attacking Alsina during an interview with podcaster Akademics on Sunday. “Nothing happened. I don’t even know what this kid is talking about, brother,” said the rapper in a clip posted to YouTube. After being asked again if he was involved, Lanez continued, “No, hell no! I don’t know if he’s doing [this for] promo. I don’t know what that n—- is talking about, bruh.”
This isn’t the first time Lanez has been in legal hot water since being hit with charges in the July 2020 shooting. In August 2021, the rapper’s bail was increased from $190,000 to $250,000 after he made a surprise appearance at the Rolling Loud Miami Festival on July 25 just moments after Stallion departed the stage — effectively violating a protective order that requires him to stay at least 100 yards away from the “Savage” hitmaker. This past April, a judge increased his bail again to $350,000 after some of the rapper’s social media posts were found to have breached court orders requiring him to avoid any contact with Stallion.
Lanez is currently awaiting trial in the case. If convicted, he faces more than 22 years in prison.
