Young Thug broke down in tears during a recent interview whilst discussing his former protégé Gunna’s perceived betrayal, offering a raw glimpse into the lasting damage caused by the YSL RICO case.
The Atlanta rapper appeared on the Perspektives With Bank podcast for a three-hour conversation with media personality Big Bank Black (as per Rolling Stone), where he candidly addressed his disappointment with Gunna’s decision to take an Alford plea in December 2022. The plea required Gunna to affirm in court that YSL was a “gang” that “must end,” despite Young Thug maintaining that YSL was never a criminal organisation.
“Once you rat, or once you turn gay — and I don’t got nothing against gay people…I can’t look at you the same. I’ma just look at you like you broke a man code,” Young Thug explained, later apologising for potentially offending the “LGTV” community.
The emotional weight of the situation became evident as Young Thug described his investment in Gunna’s career. “I gave him more time than my kids,” he revealed, expressing frustration that Gunna never offered an explanation for his actions. The plea deal significantly complicated his legal defence, forcing his lawyer Brian Steele to alter their strategy mid-trial.
“Was Gunna takin’ that plea harmful to me? Yes, 100%,” Young Thug stated. “First we tellin’ the jurors ‘YSL ain’t a gang.’ Now [after the plea deals] we goin’ back to the jurors sayin’, ‘Well, some people might say it’s a gang — but we ain’t a part of that part of it. We a part of the record label part.'”
Despite his anger, Young Thug’s feelings remain complex. “I love you bruh… I poured so much into him, I can’t even hate him,” he admitted, before breaking down completely. “The niggas I be with everyday I don’t got ’em no more. I’m fucked up. I don’t know what to do.”
The interview revealed Young Thug’s broader frustration with multiple former associates who took plea deals, including YSL Slug, YSL Obama, and others referenced in his recent track “Closing Arguments”. His pain stems not from losing friends to violence, but to what he perceives as betrayal.
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The YSL case, prosecuted by Fulton County’s Fani Willis, ultimately failed to prove the gang allegations against Young Thug. He accepted a plea only for drugs and guns found during his arrest.
