Mariah The Scientist has addressed her boyfriend Young Thug‘s release from prison for the first time during a recent live performance.
Last Thursday (October 31), Thug – real name Jeffery Williams – was released from prison after taking a plea deal, resulting in him being sentenced to 15 years probation and a “backloaded” 20-year prison sentence if violated. On the same night, his girlfriend Mariah The Scientist performed at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as one of the opening acts on Latto‘s ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea’ tour.
During her time on stage, she said a prayer in front of the New York audience and opened up about how “hard” Williams’ incarceration was for her. “I want to thank you for life, light and love. I want to thank you for our family and our friends,” Mariah prayed before thanking God for her relationship with Thug (affectionately referred to as “Jeff”) and “keeping them safe.”
@___niyah #mariahthescientist says a prayer & fck everyone that said she would never see her man #youngthug #freethug #concerts #latto #fyp #nyc #viralvideo
♬ original sound – TheFamousNiyah💐
She then began to break down, saying through tears that Williams’ release from prison “has really been a long time coming” and his trial was “really hard” to cope with. “But I’m really appreciative that you kept showing up and supporting me,” she said in her prayer before talking to the audience.
“There was people who was telling me I would never see him again. There was people who laughing at me and laughing at the situation and they were making fun of us,” she said, remembering she was meant to be praying and quickly said, “Amen.”
Mariah then shifted her attention to the naysayers: “All you motherfuckers who doubted me, and doubted this shit, and said this man was never coming back. Fuck all y’all. What you gon’ say now, bitch?” Afterwards, she led a “Thug Free” chant.
She concluded by saying, “This shit is so unbelievable. Let’s just make it to the end so I can get on this jet.”
@discussionroulette I’m so happy for her! ❤️😭 #discussionroulette #media #podcast #foryou #fyp #musica #youngthug #mariahthescientist #ysl #freethug
♬ original sound – Discussion Roulette Media
The ‘Spread Thin’ singer initially thanked the judge for releasing Williams when the news broke in a statement via reporter Michael Seiden: “This is more than what we prayed for. We are so grateful, this is the greatest opportunity we’ve ever been presented with. I cannot say it enough, I cannot repay you for this. You have changed our lives, Jeffery’s life and mine.”
The Atlanta trap legend was charged with eight counts of violating Georgia’s R.I.C.O laws as well as other counts for gun and drug possession back in 2022. He was part of a sweeping R.I.C.O case with 27 other defendants – including his protegé Gunna, who was released in December 2022 – and was on trial for over 22 months, making it the longest criminal case in Georgia state history.
As well as being sentenced to 15 years probation, Williams was given 100 hours of community service, a ban on contact with gang members or former co-defendants and a prohibition from the metropolitan Atlanta area for the next 10 years except under special circumstances. While accepting his punishment, Thug apologised to the judge and said, “To really everybody that has got something to do with this situation, I want to say sorry.”
