Why Megan Thee Stallion Wore Purple For Her Court Testimony

If there's one thing to know about Megan Thee Stallion, it's that she's not afraid to make a statement. On December 13, 2022, Megan gave her testimony in court regarding her alleged shooting by her ex-boyfriend Tory Lanez who she says shot her in the feet. While Megan is by no means on trial, that did not stop the female rapper from having all eyes on her.

As she walked into the courthouse, the "Savage" rapper stunned in her bold purple suit designed by Sergio Hudson, accessorized with a Chanel flap bag and Christian Louboutin heels. At a quick glance, Megan's outfit is clearly serving (which she never fails to do), but a closer look reveals a deeper statement being made here.

In the early 20th century, the color purple found an association with women's suffrage groups as they wore it while fighting for the right to vote. In a 1913 newsletter from the National Woman's Party, the organization wrote, “Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause."

But, Megan is not the first woman to wear purple to make a statement. In early 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris and attendees Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama all showed up in different shades of purple for President Biden's inauguration. Their intention was a call for unity, as well as a celebration of feminine power on such a politically-charged day. However, over the years, while the specific issue that was being fought for changed, purple's association with women's rights remained. In 1981, purple was chosen as the color to represent domestic violence awareness. 

Utilizing that history and symbolism, Megan's decision to wear purple directly correlates to the reason why she was in court. Not only did she send a message about her own experience with domestic violence, but she recognized the hundreds of thousands of domestic abuse victims and survivors around the world, some of whom weren't able to tell their stories, as she took the stand. However, despite being one of the most well-known performers of our generation, the artist has been met with criticism and accusations of fabricating her story about the shooting.

In November 2022, Drake and 21 Savage released the song "Circo Loco" on Drake's new album Her Loss, in which the rappers accuse Megan of lying about her shooting. While Drake is not the first to stand behind Lanez, the misogynistic backlash Megan has faced highlights the very reason why victims of violence hesitantly come forward, if they come forward at all. If one of the most well-known women in the world can't escape the evitable trolling and unprovoked anger about her experience, then where does that leave those who don't have nearly as many resources to tell their truth?

Though the backlash Megan has been put through shouldn't have shown up in the first place, her refusal to back down and keep moving forward is what makes her an inspiration. To unapologetically show up to the courthouse with so much to say is no easy feat, but she did it anyway.