When Mario became the latest celeb exposed for writing a support letter for Tory Lanez, disappointed fans dragged the R&B bromance and then snatched back Marioâs Verzuz victory faster than New Newâs chain.
Source: Izzy Nuzzo/Jerod Harris / Getty
As previously reported social media users already blasted Iggy Azalea back to Australia for defending Toryâs character in a letter to his judge and on Thursday, courtroom journalist Meghann Cuniff revealed R&B singer Mario also requested leniency for Megan Thee Stallionâs convicted shooter. Numerous people questioned how Mario was Stevie Wonder to the bullets and alleged beatings of other celebs before Toryâs 10-year sentencing.
TAKE BACK HIS VERZUZ WIN! THIS NIGGA AINT SHIT AND I THOUGHT HE WAS! and dont give it to Omarion or Ray J just yet bc we need to see if they submit a letter for this gremlin too đ https://t.co/LjqUBrBp5v pic.twitter.com/ktwJt63VLv
â damn, my man already here!! â· đđŸ (@SuGoi_HARUMA) August 10, 2023
ion know who these people think theyâre fooling when there are videos of tory arguing and fighting people. Weâve seen his temper with our own eyes.
â Yesenia Moore đ”đ· (@buttericanpecan) August 10, 2023
Marioâs Letter To The Judge In Support Of Tory Lanez
R & B singer Mario also wrote a letter to the judge ahead of Tory Lanez being sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
“I have never seen Tory act out of character in a manner to hurt someone.”â Mario Barrett pic.twitter.com/tvX7Oe0CRe
â Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 10, 2023
âTory is the type of person who doesnât look for handouts or cheat codes,â Mario explained per Cuniff, while requesting leniency for the repeat offender.
âHe works harder than almost anyone I know in this business. I watched Tory struggle as an independent artist against a system that tried to oppress him because of his hard work and drive,â Mario reportedly wrote July 23, 2023.
Twitter users pointed out that Toryâs team seemingly worked overtime to successfully turn the industry and public against Megan Thee Stallion, a Black woman facing racism, sexism, and a campaign of harassment from her attacker. Much of Toryâs fanbase seemed to grow after he shot Megan and publicly trolled her about it.
Yâall have to understand ppl have their own agendas. Iggy hasnât been hot musically and neither has Mario. Tory used hasbeens for his own personal gain and Iâm assuming they were trying to use him as well to revive their careers https://t.co/kDC8Pr1SQC
â Lex (@lEX_RATED3) August 11, 2023
Mario. After the shooting, he tweeted support towards meg. Then he does a song with t*ry last yr. He doubles down on femmeitforwardâs LIVE but replaces him with other ppl. And he writes a letter of support to the judge. His is 1 of 76 letters pic.twitter.com/Lao70kIVnI
â hold on (@snclre) August 10, 2023
Despite that, in the letter, Mario continued painting Tory as a family man whose âchild was changing him as a manâ despite multiple assault allegations against him.
He claimed,
âThe situation at hand comes as a surprise to so many of us who know Tory personally. I have never seen Tory act out of character in a manner to hurt someone.â
itâs Mario being there the night Tory assaulted August Alsina then going on to paint Tory as an individual incapable of harm. you are not talking to a job recruiter. this is prison omg. đ
â AJ (@callherlisa) August 10, 2023
Fans speculate that Mario was even present the night Tory sucker-punched August Alsina over a handshake while the three toured together. The tiny tool-toting terror was kicked off the Fall Back In Love line-up due to what August called âan assault.â
Mario was literally on tour with Tory Lanez when he got kicked off for assaulting August Alsina https://t.co/jXflxRufTr pic.twitter.com/fLjS8CaQhg
â Taz (@RunItUpHotties) August 10, 2023
âWeâve spoken on the phone many times and prayed with each other. All I can ask and pray for is that he and his son are treated fairly,â Marioâs letter concluded.
âWe prayed together.â Maybe yal shouldâve sought therapy together instead bc that didnât stop neither one of you from harming women idk https://t.co/MKe7oF4Hw5
â Leia from the Himalayas (@Creolelady89) August 11, 2023
âall i can ask and pray for is that he and his son are treated fairly.â
that child wasnât drunk &recklessly shooting a gun in the middle of the night. and a decade away from the violent leprechaun who was is the best thing for him.
â đđđđđđđ đđđđđ (@kngdmhallnoates) August 11, 2023
The letter continued to stir controversy, leading fans to clap back on social media.
Check out the backlash over Mario supporting Tory Lanez after the flip.
Social Media Reacts To Mario Backing Tory Lanez In Court
Source: Prince Williams / Getty
Following Marioâs Verzuz victory, his star seemingly secured the comeback bag with anticipation for new music. Now, the internet is sounding off about Mario caping for his âThe Cryâ collaborator Tory Lanez.
I canât believe Mario wrote a letter for Tory Lanez⊠sir how could you .. pic.twitter.com/8tOytqYe96
â . (@JoVoiceofreason) August 10, 2023
How yâall mad at artists for supporting Tory Lanez and not Meg. Yâall grow the fuc up and allow people to stand with who they choose to stand with. Drake, Iggy, Stefflon Don, Mario, etc owes none of yâall no explanation. And FYI yâall ainât canceling đ© pic.twitter.com/SAVm160I9E
â TamiCruzan (@TamiCruzanGal) August 11, 2023
Multiple Mario fans didnât know he and Tory reunited for âMain One,â which dropped (and âfloppedâ) after the shooting in 2022.
Verzuz was soo good for Mario’s brand and brought him back to relevance for a lot of folks esp Black women then he just turned around and threw it all awayâŠfor Tory Lanez?!?! Insanity https://t.co/QQpmeZKlKn
â BG (@Brittany_Geneva) August 10, 2023
Mario choosing to de-heartthrob himself behind that man who harmed Meg is⊠a choice.
A terrible, no good, very bad choice. pic.twitter.com/FqouTEE1Bj
â Millennial Golden Girl đ (@BrilliantBlkGrl) August 10, 2023
Lock Mario up too for dickriding.
You’ve never seen him hurt anyone? Are you his bodyguard that’s with him 24/7? How many times have they even been in the same room together? đđđ this meat munching is insane
â ăăȘăăŸ (FOOLY URAMESHI) đ€đœ (@ChrissaSJE) August 10, 2023
I really hate what these fake ass music industry people are doing to Meg. She was shot & these people are rallying behind her abuser all because she didnât allow him to intimidate her into silence. But this is âthe cultureâ for ya. A club of enabling & supporting abusers!
â Bella Goth âïž (@WickedNFine) August 11, 2023
He’s literally a violent little man that’s even fought people in the crowd at his concerts. This is sick! https://t.co/pNdzTD1bXy
â Ken. (@OmgKenActually) August 10, 2023
âI have never seen Tory act ouf of character in a manner to hurt someoneâ didn’t Leprechaun attack August and bully Meghan, but also Kelsey the snake? Mario deserves a prison sentence for lying to the judge just for that little boy
â Noda Girl (@BravoRelated) August 10, 2023
Not surprised that a man that loves R Kelly would be the same man to defend a man who shot a Blk woman
â Lil’Salley Punchanella Walker (@o0oTrinaBinao0o) August 10, 2023
Others pointed out that Mario preached â#ProtectBlackWomenâ in response to the shooting but still went on to work with Lanez.
This @theestallion & @torylanez situation got me in awe. Sad AF? Knowing Tory personally this shit crazy to me. Black men we gotta learn how to control our ego, anger etc. at some point the switch gotta turn off! Protect black women! Heal black men. Love & respect each other!
â Mario (@OHYESMARIO) August 22, 2020
People are also recirculating an old clip of Mario speaking on the compact Canadian which is adding more fuel to the fire.
See Marioâs response to backlash online after the flip.
Mario Previously Doubled Down On Working With Tory Lanez
Source: Prince Williams / Getty
As the internet roasted the singer for writing a letter for Tory Lanez, footage resurfaced of Mario speaking on working with Lanez. In it, he asked critics to separate the art from the artist.
âAs an independent artist doing his thing, itâs a lot of artists who donât work as hard as he do. Regardless of whatever, the music is what it is. You still listen to music regardless of whatâs going on in the world,â he said.
The replies to clip posted this week on TheNeighborhoodTalk sounded off, with many on Mario and Toryâs side.
âYALL MAD BC TORY GOT SUPPORT. Cry a river⊠FREE TORY,â one reply said.
âSo this man canât have a mind of his own and support Tory if he chooses,â someone added.
âEveryone has the right to rock with who they want to rock with. Doesnât make Mario a bad person. He didnât witness the incident, none of us did. So he can support Tory, donât mean he hate black women. It donât mean he support domestic violence. Yâall be reaching,â another added.
Others called out the hypocrisy of downplaying Megan Thee Stallionâs shooting and defending her shooter.
âWhat I donât understand is â- when a white police office[r] shoots an unarmed black person. We want Justice for our brother or sister. Correct? Tory shot an unarmed Megan Thee Stallion and if you donât see the âwrongâ in that, something is clearly off about you. Idc about her being drunk or whatever â- she didnât deserve to be shot under any circumstance. Case closed!â one critic chimed in.
âHe couldâve been writing letters on behalf actual innocent black men,â someone notes.
âThe way Tory is getting more public support especially from celebrities more then meg just goes to show how twisted Hollywood is. They donât care what you do they gon defend it,â another commenter wrote.
Like was it worth it? Song got paid dust and he stopped all his motion from his target audience he had regained after the verses- bad business move buddy https://t.co/7JOayYnQK6
â Tittygate 2023 (@jiggyjayy2) August 9, 2023
Do you think Mario deserves backlash supporting for Tory Lanez?