Ohio
Afroman sued by Ohio deputies over music videos showing raid of his home, says ‘I got freedom of speech’
A defiant rapper testified on Tuesday that he exercised free speech when he released music videos featuring images of Ohio deputies raiding his home, saying any suffering they claim in a lawsuit is due to “their mistake.”
Several Adams County sheriff’s deputies are suing Afroman, claiming they were needlessly harmed by music videos, most notably “Lemon Pound Cake,” which included security camera footage taken in 2022 when they served a search warrant looking for drugs at the performer’s home.
None were found and charges were never filed against the “Because I Got High” rapper, who was born Joseph Foreman.
Afroman took the witness stand wearing an American flag-patterned suit and said his actions are protected under the First Amendment.
“I got freedom of speech,” he told jurors. “After they run around my house with guns, kicked down my door, I got the right to kick a can in my backyard, use my freedom of speech, turn my bad times into a good time.”
“Yes I do, and I think I’m a sport for doing so because I don’t go to their house, kick down their doors, flip them off on their surveillance cameras, then try to play the victim and sue them,” he said.
The rapper said any hardships suffered by the deputies should be pinned on law enforcement.
“(This is all of) their fault for coming in my house in the first place,” the 51-year-old artist testified.
“So if they hadn’t come in my house, their children wouldn’t be saying nothing. None of this would be going on if they had did their research and did things right. So all of this is their fault, and now they want to sue me for their mistake.”
Asked if there’s anything that could “change your mind” about his creative actions, an indignant Afroman put it all back on law enforcement.
“Is there anything that can change my mind about the fact that they shouldn’t have been at my house in the first place?” Afroman rhetorically said.
“Is there anything that can change my mind about how my money shouldn’t have been touched in the first place? No.”
The title of song and video at the center of the lawsuite made light of one deputy who came through the busted door and seemed to take particular interest in a lemon loaf sitting under sitting under a cake glass in Afroman’s kitchen.
“The Adams County Sheriff kicked down my door,” according to Afroman’s song.
“Then I heard the glass break. They found no kidnapping victims. Just some lemon pound cake. Mama’s lemon pound cake. It tastes so nice. It made the sheriff wanna put down his gun. And cut him a slice.”
The “Lemon Pound Cake” video has been viewed more than 3.1 million times on YouTube.
In the song “Randy Walters is a Son of a Bitch,” the singer’s lyrics imply an extramarital affair between defendant and the wife of plaintiff Sgt. Randy Walters.
“When my daughter came home and advised me that she was getting messed with at school because apparently her mom is having sex with Afroman,” Walters told jurors.
“It’s horrible. It’s hard when your job that you’re doing which affects your family with affects you.”
Why artists are dropping out of the Great American State Fair
Musicians cancel appearances at the Great American State Fair after questions over Freedom 250 and claims the July Fourth event is nonpartisan.
As several states pull out of the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., questions are coming up closer to home — Is Ohio still participating?
Massachusetts and North Carolina won’t participate in the fair, according to USA TODAY. Reports also indicate that Connecticut, Illinois, Maine and Oregon are also expected to skip the event, with some states citing a combination of financial and political concerns as reasons for opting out.
Here’s what we know about Ohio’s role in the event so far.
Is Ohio skipping the 2026 Great American State Fair?
Ohio has confirmed its participation with a booth titled “Ohio: The Heart of it All,” which showcases state parks and childhood development. The governor’s office began the planning process for the booth in February, shortly after the Great American State Fair was announced, said Lisa Peterson director of communications in the governor’s office.
The Great American State Fair, organized by Freedom 250, is a 16-day exposition that will be displayed on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10.
Additionally, Ohio will host a stop from the “Freedom Truck,” a traveling exhibit tied to Freedom 250. The exhibit will appear at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Organizers describe the Freedom Truck as a mobile museum that visits existing fairs and community events, not a version of the Great American State Fair itself.
When does the ‘Freedom Truck’ stop in Ohio?
The Freedom Truck is scheduled to be at the Ohio State Fair from July 27 through Aug. 10, 2026 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
The exhibit includes interactive and historical exhibits about the founding of the United States, according to organizers.
The mobile museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, with the final day closing at 6 p.m.
What is the Great American State Fair?
The Great American State Fair is a 16-day event planned for June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Organized by Freedom 250, the fair is part of a broader effort to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with state exhibits, food, entertainment and cultural programming, according to USA TODAY.
President Donald Trump announced he will headline the Freedom 250‑organized Great American State Fair and hold an “America Is Back” rally, the publication reports.
America250 vs. Freedom 250: What’s the difference?
The Great American State Fair is part of Freedom 250, a Trump-backed initiative to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.
That effort is different from America250, the official, congressionally-authorized program coordinating nationwide commemorations. Meanwhile, America 250‑Ohio, the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial, is the official state-level partner to the national America250 effort.
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 23, 2026, results for each game:
Mega Millions
Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
48-51-60-63-66, Mega Ball: 20
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 8-8-0
Evening: 2-0-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 7-2-9-0
Evening: 1-6-9-3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 2-9-2-5-7
Evening: 2-8-6-4-9
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
03-09-22-37-39
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.
TEMPE, AZ – JANUARY 02: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes holds the football from the trophy after the Buckeyes defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on January 2, 2006 in Tempe, Arizona. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 34-20. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
-
Milwaukee, WI3 minutes agoDid Milwaukee Get Enough in Return for Giannis?
-
Atlanta, GA6 minutes agoMinnesota’s golden gift to Atlanta just became Wolves’ worst nightmare
-
Minneapolis, MN11 minutes agoFOX 9 Good Day: June 24, 2026
-
Indianapolis, IN18 minutes ago3 Colts Stars Heralded as NFL’s Most Important
-
Pittsburg, PA21 minutes ago14+ things to do this weekend, from the Andy Warhol Bridge 100th Birthday Bash to OpenStreetPGH
-
Augusta, GA26 minutes agoAugusta Commission receives results of 2024 budget audit
-
Washington, D.C33 minutes agoAAPI Data Releases 2026 AAPI State Fact Sheets, Highlighting the Growing Influence of AAPI Communities Across All 50 States and Washington, D.C. – AAPI Data
-
Cleveland, OH36 minutes agoLeBron James Cleveland Homecoming Possible In Exchange For Former All-Star Center
