Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland—once a key prosecution witness in the long-running Young Thug YSL RICO trial—became an unexpected courtroom star. His combative demeanor, bizarre antics, and frequent refusals to cooperate turned what should have been a serious legal proceeding into a surreal spectacle. Here are the top 10 most memorable ‘Lil Woody’ moments from the trial—moments that became instant lore in hip-hop legal drama.

I Don’t Recall”: The Catch-All Response

Woody’s signature refrain— I don’t recall,” “I don’t remember,” or I don’t know”—became his go-to answer for everything. Even simple courtroom questions were met with this evasive response, frustrating prosecutors and amending any attempt at progress

Yawns, Dozes, and “Can I Start at 10 AM?”

Throughout his testimony, Woody was seen yawning, dozing off, and casually requesting to begin court later than scheduled because I’m not getting much sleep.” Judge Whitaker promptly denied that request

Firing His Lawyer Mid-Testimony

In one jaw-dropping moment, Woody dismissed his own attorney, Kayla Bumpus, right from the witness stand:She fired,” he calmly declared. When the judge questioned whether he still needed counsel, he replied, What I need a lawyer for? I’m good”

Casual Laughter Amid Serious Proceedings

Woody directed a question back to Young Thug: Thug, did you have an issue with Rich Homie?” The rapper burst into laughter, and the courtroom moment quickly went viral

The Rant That Marked Him a ‘Hostile Witness’

Displaying open contempt, Woody exploded in court:

I have lied… Y’all are trying to put this on my conscience… I don’t recall nothing… Man, y’all pissing me off.”

This earned him the label of a hostile witness as he railed against the prosecution and police tactics

Detective Thorpe, His Brain Was the Size of a Squirrel Brain”

Woody showed no filter when insultingly describing a detective: “You could just tell him anything and he’d go for it.” The comment underscored his contempt for those questioning him

Admitting to Lies for Self-Protection

Woody said candidly that many of his prior statements were fabrications: he lied to police to avoid jail, even blaming Young Thug to deflect blame from himself

‘I’m Answering You’

After repeatedly evading questions, Woody snapped:

I’m answering you. I just told you several times.”

This defiance, delivered mid-testimony, revealed a withering frustration with the courtroom process

Courtroom as Comedy Club

One commentator likened the chaos to classic comedy routines like Abbott & Costello’s “Who’s on First”, calling Woody’s evasions and facial expressions “pure gold”—a surreal mash of legal proceedings and stand-up comedy

Viral as ‘Comedy Gold’ on Social Media

Social media erupted. One fan observed:

They gotta make a movie about YSL.”

The trial’s surreal spectacle—led by Woody’s erratic performance—became fodder for online memes and cliff notes for court chaos

Context & Significance

These moments stem from a deeply complex RICO trial, marked by changing judges and explosive courtroom drama . Woody was meant to be the prosecution’s linchpin, testifying about Young Thug’s alleged gang leadership. Instead, he became a liability—his evasions and dramatic behavior undermining the state’s case more than supporting it

Eventually, the trial concluded with a plea settlement: Young Thug was sentenced to 40 years, but only served time served, ending with probation and restrictions

Conclusion

Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland’s court saga was nothing short of theatrical: from firing his attorney mid-testimony to mocking the legal process through sarcastic outbursts and repeated denials, he turned what was supposed to be dry legal testimony into a headline-generating sideshow. These 10 best “Lil Woody” moments highlight how a single witness can completely hijack the narrative—and derail prosecutorial strategy—with equal parts audacity, frustration, and unintended comedy.