Soulja Boy's controversies over the years explored as rapper floats presidential run

Soulja Boy has a long history of public controversies that span his feuds and legal issues involving guns and alleged violence, as well as crypto promotions.

The rapper, born DeAndre Cortez Way, teased a potential campaign for the U.S. Presidency in 2028 through a social media post captioned “SOULJA BOY 2028” on Instagram. In his post, he described it as “a new chapter” and “a bigger version.” He listed focus areas as economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, education, and the future of technology and AI.

The 36-year-old rapper wrote:

“From music to business to technology, I’ve always believed in thinking bigger and challenging what’s possible. Now I’m exploring what it means to bring that same vision to public service. The future starts with a conversation.”

The Extraordinary singer's announcement post comes 18 months after the April 2025 civil verdict in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. According to a BBC report, he was found liable for sexual battery, assault, gender violence, and emotional distress brought by a former assistant and ex-girlfriend.

Continue reading for more details.

An insight into Soulja Boy’s controversies over the years

Soulja Boy’s latest announcement teasing a potential presidential run in 2028 comes months after the April 2025 verdict, where he was ordered to pay $ 4.25m to a woman who accused him of sexual battery and abuse.

According to a report in the BBC, the lawsuit was filed by the woman in 2021 who worked as the rapper’s assistant in 2018. She alleged that “he regularly raped her and beat her and sometimes kept her as a prisoner.”

However, the Atlanta-based record producer denied the allegations, maintaining that their relationship was consensual, and indicated plans to appeal the verdict. A report in NBC News stated that lead defence attorney Rickey Ivie said:

“We maintain that the evidence does not support the verdict. It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial. Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case.”

Consequently, the woman received $4 million in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. She said that she believed she loved him but also added that Soulja Boy manipulated her into staying with him until 2020.

In August 2025, the Crank That artist was arrested in Los Angeles for an alleged traffic violation. After the officers pulled over his Tesla, where he was reportedly a passenger, he was found with a firearm. He was held for two nights on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, but prosecutors declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence.

Prior to this incident, Soulja Boy was convicted in 2014 for carrying a loaded firearm in public and sentenced to two years of probation. This particular conviction led to multiple later arrests and jail sentences when firearms or ammunition were found in his possession within different intervals of time.

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In 2023, Soulja Boy was ordered to pay ex-girlfriend Kayla Myers $471,900 after she reportedly filed an assault and kidnapping lawsuit in 2020. Myers alleged that in February 2019, the Pretty Boy Swag rapper kidnapped her and held a gun to her head at his Malibu home, while threatening her life.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, after Soulja Boy failed to pay, a judge authorized the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in October 2023 to enter his Bell Canyon home and seize his personal property. Items included a diamond chain, a yellow Bentley, a red Lamborghini, a yellow Mercedes-Benz and “all other jewelry and chains, and all cash.”

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