Kamala Harris praises rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s essay about shooting: ‘Black women DO deserve better’

Harris promised rapper that she and Joe Biden would ‘continue to show up not just with lip service, but with action’

Kamala Harris has praised Megan Thee Stallion for “using her voice” to speak out in defence of black women.

On Tuesday (13 October), “Savage” rapper Megan published an essay in The New York Times titled “Why I Speak Up For Black Women” in which she described the ways that “black women are still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life”.

In response, Harris, who is the first black woman to appear on a major party’s presidential ticket in the US, reshared Megan’s article to Twitter on Wednesday.

“Thank you, @theestallion, for using your voice to speak out. Black women DO deserve better,” the vice-presidential candidate wrote.

“I promise when @JoeBiden and I are elected, we’ll continue to show up not just with lip service, but with action.”

In Megan’s essay, the 25-year-old musician reshared allegations that fellow rapper Tory Lanez had shot her in the foot at a house party in the summer. The essay was published just days after Lanez was charged with assaulting Megan with a gun. Lanez has strongly denied all allegations. 

“I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man,” she wrote. “After a party, I was shot twice as I walked away from him. We were not in a relationship. Truthfully, I was shocked that I ended up in that place.

She continued: “Even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgment. The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether I played a role in my own violent assault proves that my fears about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, warranted.”

Lanez made his first court appearance this week, when he was ordered to make no contact with Megan and surrender any guns he owns. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 23 years.