Malicious or genius?
Police officers from the Adams County Sheriff's Office are suing Afroman for using their own footage of raiding his home in 2020 in his music videos.
According to reports, seven officers-four deputies, two sergeants, and a detective-filed a lawsuit against the Ohio-based rapper earlier this month.
They claimed that the raid footage being featured in his music video caused them "emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation."
The Raid
The search, by all means, was legal. Officers conducted the search in 2020 in connection to a drug possession, trafficking, and kidnapping investigation.
While Afroman was not present at his home for the search, his wife was, and she made sure to record the police while they went through every inch of their home.
Aside from her own video footage from her phone, Afroman also collected footage from his own security cameras installed in his house.
According to The Guardian, the videos caught portions of the search, but anyone who's watching can definitely see the faces and bodies of the officers who conducted the search.
The Music Video
Apparently, Afroman used this footage in his music video, as well as promotional teasers which were circulated online.
They were used in his music video for his song "Lemon Pound Cake" and "Will You Help Me Repair My Door."
Furthermore, a clip showed an officer walking through the kitchen and seen looking at a pound cake several times.
Fans began joking about it and Afroman began calling him "Officer Poundcake." This nickname was later used in the merchandise the rapper released.
The lawsuit points this out: "These music videos clearly portray the images, likenesses, and distinctive appearances ('personas'), of many of the officers involved in the search, including those of all Plaintiffs."
CBS News reported that the seven officers are suing him for unauthorized use of their persona, invasion of privacy by misappropriating, and false light publicity, as well as other claims.
They are seeking to acquire all the profits Afroman received from his use of their personas, which includes proceeds from the song, music video, show events, and merchandise.
To top it all off, the officers also asked the music video be taken down once and for all.
According to reports, Afroman plans to file a countersuit against the Sheriff's Office "for the undeniable damage this had on my clients, family, career and property."
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