The Internet's Unsuccessful Scramble for Reasons to Hate Megan Thee Stallion

Photograph: Barcroft Media Getty Images

Just two days ago, rumors that charges against Tory Lanez were being dropped rapidly made their rounds on social media. The speculations were sparked by The Source’s now deleted false report that the felony assault and firearm-related charges against Lanez for shooting Megan Thee Stallion were dropped. The publication presented a screenshot from the Los Angeles Superior Court’s website as proof that the claim was substantiated.

The article references last year's July 12th incident of Megan getting shot in the foot by who we now know to be Lanez as she attempted to leave the car that they had been having an argument in. The shooting was immediately followed by an inundation of internet memes making fun of the situation, which Megan has repeatedly decried.

Friday's The Source article brought on an immediate flood of support for Lanez as many rushed to congratulate him for prevailing in his seemingly undeserved battle against what they consider to be Megan’s treacherous lies and attempts at intentionally “tearing down a black man.” It’s almost as if people have been on the edge of their seats for months, waiting for the slightest confirmation that Megan is indeed a mean-spirited liar so that they could finally release their built-up loathing for the rapper and her claim of victimhood. People have been waiting for this precious moment to collectively obliterate Megan.

However, Megan once again took to Twitter to defend herself, immediately refuting the rumor that the charges against Lanez were being dropped. “AT THIS POINT I’M GETTING ANNOYED” Megan very understandably tweeted; “STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE MF INTERNET.”

The highly acclaimed rapper went on to point out the ludicrous hypocrisy in the internet’s eagerness to destroy her image:

I think Megan perfectly sums up the crystal clear ridiculousness that resides in people’s villainization of her–– which has been a reality ever since people found out that she got shot in the foot back in July. People have refused to accept Lanez’ guilt and have opted to characterize Megan as an evil and disloyal person who seeks to betray her own race.

Megan’s situation obviously speaks to the larger issue of the world’s adamant refusal to believe black women when they assert that they have been victims of violence. Megan herself points out this pressing problem in one of her tweets:

It's clear that people struggle to empathize with black women; there is a consistent pattern (that is made especially evident when observing public reception of black women celebrities) of people being unable to bear the thought that black women are being wholly authentic when they publicly denounce their aggressor’s actions. Such claims are, as previously noted, brushed off as attempts at intentionally assassinating the violent perpetrator’s character. People cannot seem to comprehend the fact that black women do indeed feel pain and are not some sort of unhuman beings that are void of sentience.

The internet’s eager inclination to believe rumors that charges against Lanez have been dropped and their consequent flooding of hate to Megan exemplifies this lack of compassion and understanding that people have for black women. I, too, do not doubt that Megan’s consistent display of her unwavering confidence in herself further intimidates people. It seems that people struggle to grasp the reality that a self-possessed and assertive black woman can actually be a victim of traumatic violence.

Megan's most recent tweet about the false rumors highlights this devastating reality of the very real trauma that black women face going unrecognized:

Megan has experienced traumatic events back-to-back and yet still rarely receives moments of empathetic connection with much of the internet. Just as Megan must keep many of her emotions private for her self-protection, many black women must do the same to avoid social ostracism or even further violence from community members.

I hope that people can one day allow black women the wide range of human emotions that everyone else seems to be granted with ease. And, I sincerely feel for both the famous and unfamous black women who just can’t seem to catch a break.