Nicci Gilbert Apologizes to Tory Lanez for Premature Judgment
Nicci Gilbert, the R&B singer best known as one-third of the chart-topping group Brownstone—and now the only remaining original member—has issued a public apology to Tory Lanez for speaking out about his ongoing legal troubles without having all the facts. In a candid interview with BHighTV, Gilbert acknowledged that she “jumped on the bandwagon without fully understanding the case.”
“I was wrong,” Gilbert admitted. “I let personal emotions and unresolved issues between me and Tory’s team influence my opinion. Everyone deserves due process, and if there’s any suppressed evidence, as his legal team claims, then he deserves a retrial.” Her reference to “unresolved issues” appears to stem from a long-standing dispute over sample clearances: Lanez sampled Brownstone’s 1994 hit single “If You Love Me” for his platinum-certified track “Say It,” which cracked the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 and became one of his signature songs.
Gilbert’s reversal comes amid a flurry of high-profile shifts in public support. While initial reactions to the 2020 shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion largely centered on Lanez’s culpability, recent claims have cast doubt on key details. Some insiders have even suggested former friend Kelsey Harris—not Lanez—was responsible for the shooting, though Megan’s team has firmly denied those theories. Adding more complexity to the saga, Lanez was reportedly stabbed by another inmate in prison this month, reigniting debates over his treatment behind bars.
As one of the most visible artists to publicly back off earlier condemnations, Gilbert’s apology underscores how blurred lines between personal grievance and public commentary can lead to hasty judgments. Her call for due process and fair trial echoes a growing chorus of voices urging the courts to scrutinize all evidence—old and new.
With thousands already signing petitions demanding Lanez’s release, Gilbert’s comments may influence other artists to reconsider their stances. Whether this apology shifts the broader conversation around Tory Lanez’s legal battle remains to be seen, but it undeniably marks a key moment in the music industry’s response to one of its most divisive controversies.
