I can't be touched. Anthony Elonis got redemption after the Supreme Court ruled that his imprisonment and conviction invalid. He went to social media to rap a verse about killing his ex-wife in Eminem fashion. |
If I want to say "I'm a kill you" in a musical verse, is it a threat?
Well the Supreme Court says "no". It's not a threat if you're expressing frustrations about killing without preemptive attack. It has to be the actions done and not said. The court ruled in favor of a man who spent time in the prison after he took shots at his estranged wife after he found out she cheated on him.
Elonis v. United States is a decision that ruled in favor of plaintiff Anthony Elonis.
The court invalidated his conviction. He is no longer an active felon in the state of Pennsylvania.
Anthony Elonis (formerly known as Tone Dougie) was convicted on four counts of threats to local law enforcement, his estranged wife, an FBI agent, and a kindergarten class, relayed through interstate communication. He was sentenced to 5 years in federal time out. He posted his lyrics of violence on Facebook.
There you go.........!
Remember what you post on social media can be seen by everyone. Just because you keep it private, doesn't mean it's private. Your friends and their friends and strangers can exploit you. Once its online, it's forever.
Big rulings are coming. Obamacare and gay marriage on the way. |
Did you know that it's illegal for me to say I want to kill my wife?
It's illegal.
It's indirect criminal contempt.
It's one of the only sentences that I'm not allowed to say.
Now it was okay for me to say it right then because I was just telling you that it's illegal for me to say I want to kill my wife...
Elonis said that his rap verse were similar to Eminem. |
"...Took all the strength I had not to turn the bitch ghost
Pull my knife, flick my wrist, and slit her throat
Leave her bleedin’ from her jugular in the arms of her partner..."
Elonis' conviction was based on multiple public Facebook posts he wrote, including the following about his wife: “If I only knew then what I know now... I would have smothered your ass with a pillow. Dumped your body in the back seat. Dropped you off in Toad Creek and made it look like a rape and murder.”
Elonis fought the state of Pennsylvania to regain his freedom. After a few appeals, he got it to the Supreme Court.
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Justices Samuel Alito and Clearance Thomas were the dissenting opinion.
This ruling means that even if its distasteful and threatening, the court believes that if it's written by song or in poetic form (and not a plot to carry out a domestic attack), it's freedom of speech.
Elonis wanted to think like Eminem.
Marshall Mathers III, 42 is the world's greatest rapper. He comes from the city of Detroit and told his tales of hardship through his alter ego Slim Shady. The rapper released eight albums, five collaborations and starred in a blockbuster movie. He is one of the very few rappers to earn a Oscar for best song. He is the most recognizable White rapper. He is a controversial talent. He is criticized by some for rapping verse that may seem sexist, homophobic, violent, demonic, sadistic, and too commercial.
Eminem is also founder of Shady Records, the label that host his group D12, hip-hop collective Slaughterhouse and Alabama rapper Yelawolf.
Eminem is signed on Interscope Records through Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.
Dr. Dre left the label to join Apple via his Beats Audio.
Bigger rulings coming soon. The decisions on executive powers, Obamacare and gay marriage will be decided on in the coming weeks.
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