Megan Thee Stallion Reflects on ‘Dark’ Times Following Tory Lanez Shooting: ‘I Was Depressed’

Megan Thee Stallion has described her next era as a “rebirth” heading toward the release of an album later this year. It will be her first offering since Tory Lanez was sentenced last year in the shooting case against her, with Meg looking to close the book on the traumatic chapter of her life and build herself back up even stronger.

The Houston Hottie is the latest cover star of Women’s Health, and in the accompanying interview published on Wednesday (April 10), she reflected on the “dark times” following the Lanez 2020 shooting, which took a toll on her mental health.

“A lot of people didn’t treat me like I was human for a long time,” she said. “I feel like everybody was always used to me being the fun and happy party girl. I watched people build me up, tear me down, and be confused about their expectations of me. As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings and handle it with grace. But I’m human.”

It wasn’t until Megan started therapy that her healing process began. She now works out four to five times a week with a regimen that includes hitting the gym, pilates and beach training.

“Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans,” Thee Stallion admitted. “I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers. I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”

Tory Lanez was ultimately sentenced to 10 years behind bars on three felony counts over the incident, in which he shot Meg in the foot during an argument following a July 2020 pool party in the Hollywood Hills.

According to prosecutors, Megan got out of a car during an argument following a party at reality star Kylie Jenner’s house and began walking away when Lanez shouted, “Dance, b—h!” and proceeded to shoot.

The 29-year-old kicked off her new era last year with a series of serpentine-themed singles. Meg’s scathing “Hiss” track — which takes aim at the likes of Tory Lanez, Nicki Minaj and Drake — soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February.

“I was inspired to create this album about rebirth because I feel I am becoming a new person physically and mentally,” Meg added.

Her upcoming LP does not yet have a release date. Megan Thee Stallion’s last album, Traumazine, arrived in August 2022 and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

Check out Megan Thee Stallion’s Women’s Health cover below.