Young Thug trial sparks online questions about YSL rapper’s shirt: Updates
Young Thug is charged in a sprawling RICO trial which accuses YSL of being a criminal gang
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The hotly-anticipated trial of the rapper Young Thug is back under way in a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia, after being derailed when a codefendant was stabbed in jail.
In May 2022, Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was arrested and charged in a sprawling RICO indictment along with 27 other defendants.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis – who is using the same law to prosecute Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case – accused the suspects of being part of a criminal street gang named YSL or “Young Slime Life.”
According to prosecutors, the gang is responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings, carjackings and racketeering. Young Thug denies the accusations and insists YSL is simply his record label – Young Stoner Life.
The trial has been undoubtedly rocky. Shannon Stillwell, a YSL co-defendant, was stabbed “multiple times” in jail by a fellow inmate in December. The incident led to the trial’s postponement until 2 January.
When the trial resumed on Tuesday, Young Thug instantly sparked speculation online around what he was wearing under his shirt.
Recap: What’s happened in the trial so far?
Mr Williams’ attorney Brian Steel made waves early on when he offered up a few other contested definitions in his opening remarks. He said that the YSL abbreviation derives from the logo for designer brand Yves Saint Laurent. Mr Steel also claimed that “thug” stood for “truly humble under God,” when describing his client’s rap name.
Meanwhile prosecutor Adriane Love, in her opening statement, referenced The Jungle Book: “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” She then consistently painted Mr Williams as the head of said “pack.” In the trial’s second week, Mr Williams sparked speculation that he was trying to send the prosecution a message by boasting a designer sweater emblazoned with a cartoon wolf. The sweater sold out days later.
Jurors heard testimony from a host of law enforcement witnesses and several victims regarding their accounts of the “overt acts” listed in the indictment. Many of the overt acts mentioned thus far pertained to defendants who are no longer a part of the trial. Although the indictment lists 28 co-defendants, many have been severed from the case or have taken plea deals, leaving six defendants remaining on trial.
The third week of the trial was perhaps the most dramatic of all. When court began on 11 December, the judge told jurors that there had been a “medical issue come up with one of our participants,” and therefore the court had to recess for the day.
It was later revealed that Shannon Stillwell, one of the six co-defendants on trial, was stabbed in jail the night before. Mr Stillwell is in stable condition and his fellow Rice Street Jail inmate who stabbed him has been charged with aggravated assault and possession of prohibited items in connection to the stabbing.
Jeffery Williams is a founding member of YSL, ex-codefendant testifies
ICYMI: Where does Young Thug fit in?
The indictment portrays Young Thug as the leader of the criminal gang, which was responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings and carjackings.
Prosecutors say the rapper also used his music and social media posts to promote the gang,
He is also alleged to have committed multiple crimes that he has not been charged with.
While he is not being charged for such “overt acts”, they lend credence to the allegation that the group of defendants were together engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, told The New York Times: “Mr Williams came from an incredibly horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at. He’s committed no crime whatsoever.”
Read more about the case here...
Young Thug, YSL and questionable lyrics: The controversial ‘gang’ trial, explained
Young Thug debuts announces clothing line
The rapper announced the new clothing line on Instagram on Tuesday, writing “If you support me then... you know the rest.”
The line is called ActNormal. An account, which seemed to belong to the brand, reposted Mr Williams’ Instagram story writing “#freeJeff.”
In a separate post, the account wrote in a caption: “When the world is in chaos we do what the rest of the world isn’t doing.”
Mr Williams’ clothing has been the subject of headlines over the past few weeks during the trial, when he wore a designer wolf sweater after the prosecution accused him of being the “leader” of the YSL “pack.”
