Grammy Award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion had a meteoric rise to fame when a single from her mixtape “Tina Snow” charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019. However, her ability to enjoy the spotlight was diminished in 2020 when she was shot by rapper Tory Lanez.
After years of trying to defend herself against online backlash surrounding the incident, the rap star released her documentary, “Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words,” on Amazon Prime Video last week to officially tell her story. In addition to discussing the harrowing assault, Megan provides insight into grieving the deaths of her parents, her struggles with depression and anxiety and, ultimately, how she’s managed to overcome incredible adversity.
The two-hour documentary peels back the layers of the Houston native’s journey to stardom, which began at a young age from seeing her mother’s love for freestyle rap. For depicting unseen moments like those from her childhood, the film employs an animation style similar to what was used in the lyric videos for tracks from Megan’s 2022 album “Traumazine.”
Animation is seen throughout the film, but it is especially impactful when used as Megan expresses the emotional strength it took to testify against Lanez in court in December 2022. An animated Megan sobs on the stand, her intense trauma is conveyed by her tears filling the entire courtroom, drowning her in a sea of anguish. But then she acknowledges that she must release the need to appear “strong” and let herself feel the weight of her trauma, something many Black women struggle with.
Although Megan explains that she pushed herself to move on after the shooting to avoid processing the incomprehensible trauma she experienced, it’s heartbreaking that many of those around her didn’t seem to fully stop and evaluate how not taking a break would take a toll on her wellbeing.
In the song “COBRA” from her latest album, Megan raps, “Breaking down and I had the whole world watching, but the worst part is really who watched me. Every night I cried, I almost died and nobody close tried to stop it.”
Eventually, Megan reaches a breaking point and embarks on a month-long mental health retreat to get back to herself. When she returns for the trial, she describes experiencing suicidal ideations for the first time ever and having to call 911 during an anxiety attack. These moments are absolute tear-jerkers, but they are intensely motivating to anyone facing a lot of pressure who struggles to put themselves first.
Since the documentary’s release, social media users have criticized Megan for admitting to initially lying about having an intimate relationship with Lanez before he shot her. Critics are treating this admission as a “gotcha” moment that proves her testimony to be unreliable when Megan did, in fact, admit to it in court. Black women are already held to an impossible standard, and even when a crime is perpetrated against them, they are judged and crucified if they are not the perfect victim.
What intensified Megan’s struggle was the way many people in the industry turned on her when she came forward about being shot. Known abusers Chris Brown and Sean “Diddy” Combs are seen defending Lanez in various clips. Artists like Drake even threw shade at Megan’s assault on his project “Her Loss.” It’s one thing to give someone accused of a crime the benefit of the doubt, but it’s another to go out of your way to tear down the victim, which is exactly what these men and countless others did online.
By including these snapshots into the world’s reaction to Megan’s assault, this documentary calls out society for often dismissing Black women’s pain and trauma. Whether people just didn’t want to believe Lanez was capable of violence or couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say Megan deserved what happened to her because of her music, it’s inexcusable for her pain to have ever been deemed a joke or used as a punchline in a song.
When Megan breaks down in tears after hearing Lanez was convicted, it’s impossible for your heart not to ache for all that she has been through.
This documentary doesn’t just relay Megan’s story; it appeals to any woman who has been called a liar for just telling the truth and Black women who have been silenced by a world plagued with misogynoir. This film tells them, “I see you. You are not alone.”
“In Her Words” is undeniably honest, emotionally provoking and a reminder that Black women need to be protected and cared for. Megan’s journey to recovering from unthinkable betrayal, learning to care for herself and producing music that is authentic and empowering is inspiring.
Thee Hot Girl Coach has solidified her place in the rap game and maintains her status as someone who continues to uplift women, preaching confidence and authenticity. Ultimately, Megan Thee Stallion is here to stay regardless of what anyone has to say.
