A doctor who treated Tory Lanez for hair loss was among the individuals who sent letters to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford asking for leniency.
In a letter shared by reporter Meghann Cuniff—who has extensively covered the trial of Lanez in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion—hair restoration specialist Dr. Craig L. Ziering wrote to Herriford asking for leniency ahead of the sentencing. He wrote that his relationship with the Canadian rapper started in 2018 when he came in for a consultation regarding his hair loss.
"Daystar [Tory Lanez] and I have become very close over the years," he wrote. "We have discussed his situation and how troubling it is. Since that time he has helped countless numbers of people suffering from hair loss by sharing his journey publicly, via print, social media, online, radio and podcasts with his own time, money and resources. ... I am writing this letter in hopes that your Honor will consider leniency in sentencing."
In a follow-up tweet, Cuniff added, "Based on the doctor's full letter and Judge Herriford's description of it in court, it's safe to say the judge thought the letter was funny. The letter goes on to discuss Lanez's support for affordable health care, but Herriford's in-court summary was entirely about hair loss."
R&B singer Mario also wrote a letter requesting leniency. "I have never seen Tory act out of character in a manner to hurt someone," wrote Mario.
Lanez was sentenced to ten years in prison over the 2020 shooting of Megan earlier this week. “Over the past three years, Mr. Peterson has engaged in a pattern of conduct that was intended to intimidate Ms. Pete and silence her truths from being heard,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement on the sentencing. “Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault because they are too often not believed. I commend Megan Pete for her incredible bravery and vulnerability as she underwent months of probing investigation and court appearances where she had to relive her trauma, and the public scrutiny that followed."
It's no secret the rapper has suffered from hair loss throughout his career. It's often been a talking point among people who have a less-than-favorable view of him. As recently as April, Lil Duval publicly wondered how his hairline was looking after spending some time in jail.
In early 2019, meanwhile, J.I.D. said he went on tour with Tory Lanez in 2016 when he first started losing his hair. "2018 this n***a got his hair back and start losing his mind," J.I.D. tweeted. In response, Lanez offered to hop on a track together to see who "ripped it harder," but also left the door open to go the diss route.
In a 2019 interview with Joe Budden, the rapper denied wearing a hairpiece and admitted he got a procedure done. "I met a doctor that does hair restoration—that n***a is specifically for African American and Latino hair. So, basically, I was going away on my corners. They help me do the restoration," he said, later claiming he did not do hair transplants despite that being Dr. Craig L. Ziering's specialty. "It's not Bosley, though ... that's when they slice your head and do all this weird shit. I didn't do that. My shit is more so natural."
Following the sentencing, Lanez released a statement maintaining his innocence. "Regardless of how they try to spin my words, I have always maintained my innocence and I always will," he wrote. "This week in court I took responsibility for all verbal and intimate moments that I shared with the parties involved.... That’s it. In no way shape or form was I apologizing for the charges l’m being wrongfully convicted of. I remain on the stance that I refuse to apologize for something that I did not do."
