Momentum is building behind a call to release Tory Lanez as political voices and activists press California Governor Gavin Newsom to intervene in the Canadian artist’s 10-year prison sentence. Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was convicted in 2023 for the 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, a case that drew national attention and deep division.
Now, with Lanez incarcerated and not eligible for parole until at least November 2029, several public figures are stepping up to advocate for his clemency.
Former New Jersey Assemblyman Jamel Holley is leading the charge, formally petitioning Governor Newsom to issue a pardon. “I humbly implore you to exercise your authority…to grant clemency, correcting a grave injustice and safeguarding a life,” Holley wrote in his statement, suggesting that “Mr. Peterson’s conviction rests on unstable foundations.”
Jack Brewer, a former NFL player and White House appointee, has also added his voice to the growing campaign, focusing on the impact Lanez’s imprisonment has had on his son and the broader issue of fatherlessness in communities of color.
“As an advocate for 2nd Chance Fathers, I can’t stay silent about Tory Lanez,” Brewer shared on X. “This is another broken case that points to someone else, another father is lost to a system that rewards headlines over truth. Fatherlessness is destroying our nation.”
Brewer went further, directly appealing to Governor Newsom. “If Tory was an illegal alien there would be protests in the streets,” he wrote. “It’s not right. Governor Gavin Newsom, you have the power to right this wrong. This is bigger than one man, it’s about every child growing up without their dad, every family torn apart by injustice. I’m asking you to lead with courage, compassion, and fairness. Bring a father home.”
Tory Lanez’s legal team has maintained his innocence throughout the case, and with parole still years away, supporters are hoping Newsom will consider their calls for compassion and a second chance. If parole is denied, Lanez could remain incarcerated until 2033.