50 Cent, Angie Martinez and more in the Hip Hop world have reacted to Brittney Griner being sentenced to nine years in prison for her Russian drug case.
On Thursday (August 4), the imprisoned WNBA star was delivered her sentencing at a court outside Moscow, according to Bloomberg.
She faced a maximum of 10 years in prison for drug charges after the 31-year-old was arrested in February at a Moscow airport when officials claimed to find a vape containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
A number of members of the Hip Hop community have spoken out since the news broke, including 50 Cent who called the sentencing “wild” and alluded to it being based on politics.
“This is wild, smh you don’t ever want to get caught up in the politics,” the G-Unit rapper wrote on social media. “They are gonna tell her like 10 years for a vape pin watch.”
Hall of Fame radio host Angie Martinez chimed in, calling the decision “disgusting and fuckin infuriating.” She also called on the U.S. government to bring Griner home.
“BRING HER HOME,” Martinez said on Instagram. “9 years for oil in a vape pen?! this poor woman is a political pawn and it’s disgusting and fuckin infuriating!”
Meek Mill also responded to the news, tweeting: Free BG … let’s fight for her!!!!!!!”
Chuck D took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the sentencing, writing: “I’ve taken hundreds of artists personnel across the earth …number 1 message dont Fcuk with these govts on any sht.
“BG has been used & abused dangled by D-evils. Here NRA & image gangsters must know that the killing machines of War ain’t a movie.While all can only sit watch pray.”
The highly-publicized case has caused Americans to pressure the Biden Administration into making a deal with Russia to bring home the WNBA baller.
“I call on Russia to release her immediately,” President Biden reportedly said in response to the sentencing, which he deemed to be “unacceptable.”
The White House previously had been in negotiations with Russia in a prison swap to bring Griner home while freeing dangerous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Russia is reportedly interested in making the deal, per Bloomberg.
Nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” Bout is currently serving a 25-year sentence in America after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization.
See more reactions to Brittney Griner’s sentencing below:
It was a risk she took. Ain’t nothin. Even if it was a pen, she knew what was good or bad going international with anything weed. Buck up, and handle it. Hope that 15 min bake was worth losing your freedom and time with family.
Russia don’t care what we think about them invading Ukraine, they don’t care about our sanctions and they don’t care what we think about this girls prison sentence. They don’t care what we think or do on any level about anything. This girl should have her head examined for even going to Russia with all that’s going on. I feel for her and her family but if people think Putin is going to care about some stupid hashtag movement on Twitter to #FreeBG than they clearly aren’t paying attention.
This is a very sad situation. It seems like, in the United States, we only pay attention to issues such as foreign imprisonment when it involves someone famous. My prayers go to BG and her family, but my prayers also go to all of the families who have had a loved one jailed overseas that no one cared about for years. And to anyone who has had a hefty sentence for marijuana in our own country. Why does Brittney Griner’s freedom matter more than anyone else’s?
yeah true that.
she put herself in a really bad situation. but I’m wondering what all the strong black women who invented every blouse and skirt thing a black man ever did just read pitchfork are doing about this. I would’ve thought Lizzo would have busted her out by now trolling putin on the gram hooping with BG. Sick of the superwoman propaganda as we all make mistakes and we are all equally accountable in our communities no matter our circumstance
time doesn’t fit the crime.
She broke their laws. What’s hard to understand? Russia would do this to any one from America.
Nah, I just can’t come to the conclusion that she should be traded for a whole international terrorist, she was stupid enough to break the law of literally the enemy nation of her home country and thought it was all good, this is social darwinism y’all
If BG of Hot Boys fame could do a 14-years bid, this BG can do 9 years in a Russian prison. You got this, girl!
How stupid do you have to be to take drugs to a country that it is illegal? All these celebrities shocked that she got booked for being the dumbest person on planet earth has got me thinking their IQ is hovering round 75
if it is illegal in a country, then don’t try to break the law….respect other countries’ laws and regulations when you are in that country, doesn’t matter how “stupid” or “unneccesary” you may think they are….do the crime, do the time…if u kill someone, you might get the death penalty in one country and may only have to do 10 years in another….do yo research before you go to a foregin country, or even another US state…cuz laws are gonna be different