A trailer for a low-budget film that thinly recreates the night rapper Tory Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion in July 2020 has gone viral and fans of the “Cobra” rapper are not here for it.
Under a trailer available to watch on YouTube, the synopsis for an upcoming film called “The Rapper Who Got Shot In The Heel” reads like this: “Music artist Raven The Stallion and Cory Gainz are having a secret love affair behind their friend Chelsea’s back. One night after a lot of partying and drinking everything goes wrong, leading to a shooting that will forever change their relationship.”
Sound familiar? Many social media users thought so too, and they are not having it.
“This is tacky as hell” wrote one commentator under the trailer on YouTube. Another commentator agreed and wrote, “This not it.”
Produced by 9/10 Productions Film, the trailer was actually released back in September, but lately it has been making the rounds on social media because director Alvin Gray posted movie stills from the film on Instagram that were set to audio from Stallion’s “Anxiety.”
A caption for the photos reads:
“Movie stills for the film “The Rapper Who Got Shot in the Heel”! The film was a heavy production, focusing on bringing REAL awareness to domestic violence within our community and making the appropriate choices before it’s too late! I hope people learn from this film, and not take it too lightly.
So, far there has been no set release date for the production, and it could be because no streamer wants to touch the subject. Previously, 9/10's productions were picked up on Amazon and Tubi—including “The Nurse That Saw the Baby on the Highway,” inspired by the Carlee Russell hoax—social media users assumed that the Stallion and Lanez-inspired drama would also be available on the streaming platform. But Tubi reportedly told Vibe Magazine that the film is not on its streaming platform, and there are no plans to ever have the film on its platform.
A negative response to the trailer also prompted director Gray to release a video statement on Dec. 14 to clarify why he felt dramatizing the incident was important.
He explained, “I want you to understand this movie is not poking fun at domestic violence or anyone getting hurt or anyone getting shot. If you truly are a fan of mine, you know I don’t even get down like that.”
He added, “I was intrigued by that whole thing. Because — this is my opinion, personally — a lot of things didn’t make sense. Guilty, not guilty, whatever the case may be, certain things just didn’t make sense to me which is intriguing. That’s how I am as a filmmaker.”
While some wrestle over whether the “The Rapper Who Got Shot In The Heel” is shrewd filmmaking or simply an exploitation of a Black woman’s trauma, others can’t wait for more.
“You should do Puffy next lol,” wrote one commentator under the Gray’s film stills, referencing Diddy’s recent legal troubles.