Exclusive: Tory Lanez thinks his appeal hearing went well, according to his lawyers

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Latest with Loren LaRosa

Episode: Exclusive: Tory Lanez Thinks His Appeal Hearing Went Well, According to His Lawyers
Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Loren LaRosa
Produced by: The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on an exclusive update regarding Tory Lanez’s ongoing legal battle—specifically, a recent appeals hearing in his high-profile case involving the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Host Loren LaRosa dissects the hearing, outlines the defense's strategy, and shares direct insights from Tory Lanez's legal team, particularly from Cesar McDowell, head of Unite the People. The episode aims to clarify where the appeal stands, what might happen next, and how both Lanez and his legal counsel are feeling following the most recent developments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and Legal Team Context

• Loren recaps Tory Lanez’s successive changes in legal representation, from Sean Holly, to a second legal team, and now currently with Unite the People led by Cesar and Mitchell McDowell.
• [03:08] “I watched Tory Lanez attorney who is working with Cesar and Mitchell McDowell, who are the CEO and co-founders of Unite the People, which is the legal team that has been working with Tory Lanez.”

2. Content of the Appeal Hearing

• The appeals hearing took place earlier in the week, the arguments were "very detailed," and Loren confirms she watched the full proceedings herself.
• The panel: Three women judges, including one Black woman, heard the arguments.
• Tory’s team have submitted 11 points (or “errors”) they claim occurred during the trial.
• [03:31] “Tory Lanez’s team have submitted two petitions already to courts…They were also asking for just a completely new sentence. And a judge said no. Now this is the big conversation though…This is the one that will determine whether or not Tory Lanez gets to walk or gets to retry.”

3. Main Points of Appeal

• DNA Evidence: Alleged to have been withheld or not received in a timely manner by the defense.
• Kelsey’s Testimony: Centered around "use immunity"—Lanez’s lawyers claim they couldn't fairly cross-examine her after immunity was granted and she pled the Fifth.
• [04:54] "Tory Lanez's team is saying, look, that made her unavailable to us. And that's like constitutionally and based on the constitution. That's just not right."

4. Legal Team’s Outlook & Exclusive Insights

• Loren speaks directly with Cesar McDowell, who is “100%” sure at least 2–3 of the 11 claims will be upheld, potentially resulting in exoneration or a new trial.
• [07:02] “McDowell actually tells me that of the full 11 things, he believes strongly like, he will say 100% that Tory Lanez will be granted at least two to three of the issues that they are asking for the judge to see.”
• [07:33] “Tory will either be exonerated and get to walk, or he will be allowed to retry these different errors...that is a strong statement.”

5. Assessment of the Hearing

• Loren is transparent about what she saw in the courtroom: While Lanez’s team presented their evidence forcefully, the prosecution rebutted just as strongly.
• [09:11] “...they had their points, and they presented a lot of information...but at the same time, the other side shot right back with the same amount of, here’s evidence, here’s information, here’s what they could have done.”
• She notes that the core arguments—about DNA evidence and Kelsey’s testimony—have been a part of Lanez’s defense since his conviction.

6. Next Steps & Timeline

• This appeal is broader than previous single-issue petitions (like requests to submit new evidence or change sentencing); 11 issues are on the table.
• Loren clarifies that despite previous denials, this comprehensive appeal is a separate, much larger opportunity for Lanez.
• Decision timeline:
  • Typically, a decision could take up to 90 days, but the legal team expects to hear back within 60 days, possibly sooner.
  • [11:52] “From what I was told by Cesar McDowell, Tory Lanez's legal team are all very confident that they'll hear back way less than 90 days, that they'll actually hear back in max 60 days.”

7. Community Impact & Audience Engagement

• Loren turns to the listeners, highlighting the changing tides of public opinion and calling for input on social media.
• She notes the continuing polarization: some support for Tory Lanez, others steadfast behind Megan Thee Stallion.
• [12:41] “Do y'all feel like Tory Lanez has a shot?...Let me know what y'all think. Take it to the streets. Take it to the tweets.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kelsey’s Testimony:
  [04:54] “Tory Lanez’s team is saying, look, that made her unavailable to us. And that's like constitutionally...that’s just not right.”
  — Loren LaRosa

• On Legal Counsel’s Confidence:
  [07:02] “McDowell actually tells me that...he believes strongly like, he will say 100% that Tory Lanez will be granted at least two to three of the issues that they are asking for the judge to see.”
  — Loren LaRosa summarizing Cesar McDowell

• On Lanez's Perspective:
  [08:26] “I also asked him, how does Tory Lanez think that yesterday’s big appeal hearing went? He told me...Tory Lanez believes that this went well. That actually everybody in their legal camp believes yesterday went well.”
  — Loren LaRosa

• On Support, Skepticism & Public Opinion:
  [12:41] “Do y’all feel like Tory Lanez has a shot? And surprisingly enough, you know, the ties change. I know how people get. It’s like one minute y’all feel one way, the next minute y’all feel another... Let me know what y’all think. Take it to the streets. Take it to the tweets.”
  — Loren LaRosa

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:08–04:50] — Summary of Tory Lanez’s changing legal representation and overview of the appeals hearing
• [04:51–07:25] — The central arguments: withheld DNA evidence and Kelsey’s testimony
• [07:26–09:30] — Cesar McDowell’s confidence and possible outcomes if appeal is granted
• [09:31–11:30] — Loren’s assessment of courtroom dynamics and repeated nature of arguments
• [11:31–12:36] — Timeline discussion (decision in 60–90 days), likelihood of success, and what could happen next
• [12:41–14:14] — Loren’s call for public opinion, reflection on how the case has divided supporters

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Tone & Takeaway

The tone is conversational, engaged, and insider-focused—Loren offers candid observations, direct reporting from her sources, and honest reflections on how the community is responding. The episode provides clarity on the state of the appeal, demystifies the ongoing legal maneuvers, and gives listeners exclusive updates that haven't yet appeared in other media.

If you’re following the Tory Lanez case or want to understand the complexities behind high-profile celebrity trials and appeals, this episode is an essential listen with on-the-ground insights and direct legal commentary.

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Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Let's get to it.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, guys, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment, news, exclusives. And today we got a good Tory Lanez exclusive and all of the conversations that shake the room. Now hopping right on into the latest because I am like powering through at this point. It has been a long first day back after vacation. I want to get right to this story. So earlier this morning on the Breakfast Club, we talked a lot about Tory Lanez and the hearing, the appeals hearing that his team recently had. This went down on Monday. So this went down earlier, top of this week. And in the hearing which lasted for some time, the arguments are very detailed. But I watched the hearing. So I watched Tory Lanez attorney who is working with cesar and Mitchell McDowell, who are the CEO and co founders of Unite the People, which is the legal team that has been working with Tory Lanez. And y' all remember, Tory Lanez has switched lawyers. He's went from Sean Holly and then he went to a second legal team. And now he has been working for some time, though, but he has been working with Unite the People. So Laura L. Capero stood before a panel of three judges. Now, these three judges, all women, one judge is a black woman, heard Laura, who is, you know, up here for Tory Lanez. They also got to hear arguments in rebuttal of what Tory Lanez team is claiming was done unfairly to him. So just to summarize it really quickly, Tory Lanez team have submitted two petitions already to courts. And these petitions involved, they were asking if they're able to enter completely new evidence. And a court said no. They were also asking for just a completely new sentence. And a judge said no. Now this, this is the big conversation though. Like this is the big boy. This is the one that will determine whether or not Tory Lanez gets, gets to walk or gets to retry some of the issues or the things or the errors that his team is claiming went down in the original Meg Thee Stallion case all that time after that house pool party that they went to with Kylie Jenner. So they are claiming, number one, that there's DNA evidence that was withheld and that, you know, Tory Lane's team did not get in time enough to respond to. They're also alleging that Kelsey's testimony and the way that they did not get to question Kelsey and investigate her claims in a certain amount of time are just. They're saying it's unconstitutional. So it's something called use immunity. And I've spoken to Tory Lanez's legal team and from what they're explaining to me, their whole point is, is that at one point Kelsey was, you know, she was able to be questioned and all the things. Then she gets on the stand once she decides to testify and she's given immunity. Not only is she giving immunity for the testimony, but she's also able to plead the fifth when it comes to anybody being able to ask her different questions. So Tory Layne's team is saying, look, that made her unavailable to us. And that's like constitutionally and based on the constitution. That's just not right. Now they're also saying here that because of there's 11 different things that they have dissected and broke apart and decided to present in front of this panel of judges. But of the 11. So after speaking to Cesar McDowell, who is one of the co founders of Unite the People, which again is Tory Lanez's team, legal team, so he is leading Tory lanez's legal team. McDowell actually tells me that of the full 11 things, he believes strongly like, he will say 100% that Tory Lanez will be granted at least two to three of the issues that they are asking for the judge to see. And when I say granted, that means either out of two to three of these things, a judge will either fully exonerate Tory Lanez or a judge will allow for a new trial to happen. Now, this is according to the head attorney, the head of Unite the people, Cesar McDowell. He says to me, beyond a shot of a doubt, he believes that between two or three of these things, specifically the things I mentioned, the conversation about the DNA, the conversation about Kelsey's testimony and how they allege that, you know, just constitution based on the constitution, Tory's rights were violated. Tory will either be exonerated and get to walk, or he will be allowed to retry these different errors of These conversations that they're bringing up. And that is a strong statement. And I asked him, I said, are you for sure that I can say that, like, because let's just be honest here, y'. All, Tory Lanez has been at this fight for some time now. This is not a new. You know, Tory Lanez just woke up last week and said, hey, I want to fight and try and get out of here and try to get. Tory Lanez has been fighting since the moment he was convicted. He's been convicted. He's facing 10 years behind bars because of the alleged shooting of. Or I mean, I don't gotta say alleged because he was convicted. He was found guilty of the shooting of Meg Thee Stallion. Now, I won't go into too much detail about everything that they're alleging was done wrong, because we did talk about this briefly on the Breakfast Club, but I do want to give you guys an update exclusively after talking to Cesar McDowell. So I also asked him, how does Tory Lanez think that yesterday's big appeal hearing went? He told me that he believes Tory Lanez believes that this went well. That actually everybody in their legal camp believes yesterday went well. Now, I watched the full hearing, and I'm not gonna, you know, lie to you guys. So, yeah, they had their points, and they presented a lot of information to Orleans team. But at the same time, the other side shot right back with the same amount of, here's evidence, here's information, here's what they could have done. And there was a bit of a rebuttal after that. So Tory Lanez's attorney, Laura, she got back up after those arguing for Meg Thee Stallion, or those arguing in favor to keep Treelaines in jail sat back down. And, you know, she just refuted the things that came back up. But I'm be honest with y'. All. This argument is nothing different than what we've heard in various different ways. I know that there was a letter sent over to the judge a while back, and this was around a time when Tory Lanez decided that he didn't want to work with Sean Holly anymore, who is a famed attorney who was representing him. He mentioned, you know, just different things that he alleges weren't allotted to him. Tory Lanez has tried to have the conversation about the DNA for some time now as well. These are not new arguments whatsoever. So to hear that Tory Lanez thinks that this went well, to hear Cesar McDowell say, We are for certain that at least two to three of these things will be granted, that is a big statement. Now, I did ask him, you know, if these things are granted, what happens right away? And again, as I mentioned earlier, this is not the appeals conversation where, you know, it's just one thing that they're deciding on. So a lot of people are confused as well, because the other two petitions that we've been talking about with Tory Lanez that were not granted, once those things were taken off the table, people thought that Tory Lanez's ability to appeal in general was just done. Those were one issue conversations. So they were only asking and requesting one thing. Hey, can we please submit new evidence? No. Hey, can we please have a conversation about a different sentence? No, this big conversation right here, there are 11 different things that they're saying hey, about. So this is the big one. Now, I did ask as well, because I have been reading, and from what I read, this could take up to 90 days to make a full decision about for that panel of judges, the three judges that come back and say, hey, we have our decision and go through their, you know, breakdown of what their decisions are on each of the 11 things. And from what I was told by Cesar McDowell, they are all, Tory Lanez's legal team are all very confident that they'll hear back way less than 90 days, that they'll actually hear back in max 60 days. And to be honest with you, it sounds like they think that it could even be a little bit sooner than that because that's just how confident they are in how they've presented with their arguments or the errors that they're alleging that were made in trial when Tory Lanez was convicted. Now, again, this is one of those things where, I mean, any attorney that you ask is going to tell you that somebody like a Tory Lanez in a position he's in because people keep saying, why is he wasting money on attorneys? Why is he wasting his time on attorneys? Why is he wasting his time, money, energy on even thinking that anything will be overturned, that he'll be able to come home? The evidence was there. Anybody's gonna tell you if you're in a position like Tory Lanez is in, you just fight until you can't fight anymore. You try and bring things to people's attention in all the ways that you can. And again, these are not new arguments. I think people are paying more attention now because Tory Lanez has, you know, official documents in court asking for these things to be paid attention to. But since the moment he was convicted, this man has been saying he did not do it. Now, I don't know how Y' all feel. Y' all gotta let me know in the comments. Please take it to the streets. In the tweets.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

We outside, we outside. We outside, outside in the tweets.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Do y' all feel like Tory Lanez has a shot? And surprisingly enough, you know, the ties change. I know how people get. It's like one minute y' all feel one way, the next minute y' all feel another. Because I remember when, you know, all of this first kicked off and the verdict came down and you know, you had so many people having the different conversations and, you know, different celebrities coming out in support of Tory or in support in support of Megan and blah, blah, blah, people were very clear what side they stood on. People feeling like he shot her were very, very loud. People who I E. There was a lot of people on the other side and this is what Meghan Nathalia talks about a lot and also has had to put orders in court about a lot. There are a lot of people on the opposite side that are alleging that Meg thee stallion is lying about who shot her and does not know who shot her. I want to know how y' all feel. You know, again, Cesar McDowell, the head of Unite the people who was leading Tory Lanez's legal strategy, for him to say to me that they believe that at least two to three of these major topics will be granted in Tory's favor, meaning he could either be retried or he could be walk. That is a huge statement. Let me know what y' all think. Take it to the streets. Take it to the tweets. Let me know what y' all think. Does Tory Lanez walk on any of these charges? After listening to what you guys listen to today, what was presented, I want to know.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Fired on August 29th. Stop.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast.