has shared a powerful open letter in the wake of her trial against Tory Lanez, after he was found guilty of shooting her in 2020.
Following a nine-day trial last December, , born Megan Pete, at a party in Los Angeles.
The 30-year-old – real name Daystar Peterson – was due to be sentenced on Monday following several delays, but the hearing was pushed back once again after his attorneys filed a motion for a new trial.
Speaking out over the verdict for the first time in the pages of , the Grammy-winner, 28, insisted that she doesn’t see herself as a victim but instead as a ‘survivor’, and reflected on the way and at her lowest moments.
‘I don’t want to call myself a victim. As I reflect on the past three years, I view myself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable,’ Pete began. ‘Not only did I survive being shot by someone I trusted and considered a close friend, but I overcame the public humiliation of having my name and reputation dragged through the mud by that individual for the entire world to see.
‘For years, my attacker laughed and joked about my trauma. For years, my attacker peddled false narratives about what happened on the night of July 12, 2020. For years, my attacker tried to leverage social media to take away my power. Imagine how it feels to be called a liar every day? Especially from a person who was once part of your inner circle.’
Pete revealed her wishes that the ordeal could have been handled privately, but this changed once her ‘attacker made it public’, which led to some people in the spotlight , with conspiracy theories and ‘false narratives’ surrounding that fateful night.
‘Even some of my peers in the music industry piled on with memes, jokes, and sneak disses, and completely ignored the fact that I could have lost my life. Instead of condemning any form of violence against a woman, these individuals tried to justify my attacker’s actions,’ she continued. ‘It never crossed my mind that people wouldn’t believe me.
‘Still, I knew the truth and the indisputable facts would prevail. I had worked way too hard to reach this point in my career to let taunts deter me. When the guilty verdict came on Dec. 23, 2022, it was more than just vindication for me, it was a victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them.’
She offered her support for those suffering in silence and blasted the backlash and bullying some women face for speaking out against their attackers, especially when an abuser has a huge platform of their own – slamming those who accuse victims of ‘lying or attempting to make money from their trauma’.
‘From firsthand experience, I know why a lot of women don’t come forward,’ she noted. ‘Any support and empathy that I received was drowned out by overwhelming doubt and criticism from so many others.
Since the verdict was returned, Pete stepped out of the public eye and away from the spotlight to ‘heal’, and has taken steps to slowly resume her life.
She has also made sure to ‘establish boundaries’ with those around her, explaining that she has become ‘more cautious’ when it comes to those she interacts with, so that she can see their true intentions.
‘I understand the public intrigue, but for the sake of my mental health, I don’t plan to keep reliving the most traumatic experience of my life over and over again. I’m choosing to change the narrative because I’m more than just my trauma,’ Pete added. ‘This is a rebirth of a happier and healthier me. I’m a survivor and I have – and will continue – to embrace the highs and lows of my journey.’
Peterson was found guilty of shooting Pete last December, following the incident at a party in LA, in July, 2020.
The Savage star claimed that her former friend shot her in both feet as they left the party, which left her needing surgery to remove bullet fragments.
Peterson pleaded not guilty but chose not to take the stand during last year’s trial, while as she recounted her ordeal.
He was later found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence, and could face up to 22 years in prison.
