By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — An Indiana man accused of stalking Ashanti took the witness stand Friday and boldly claimed that the stunning pop singer led him on, only to turn him down when he had a falling out with famed producer Irv Gotti.
In testimony that became increasingly incoherent, Devon Hurd, 31, claimed he met Ashanti after cheering her on at a show at the United Center in Chicago.
"I said, 'Hey Mama.' She said 'Hey,'" Hurd recalled about the meeting.
Hurd said he and Ashanti made eye contact shortly afterwards. He said he believed she gave him a look "like she was saying hi."
"I was like damn, i need to get in touch with her," he continued.
Hurd has admitted to sending lewd and personal text messages along with photos of his genitals to Ashanti and her mother, but claims that doesn't qualify as stalking or harassment because he had no ill intent.
On the stand, he claimed he saw no issue with sending Ashanti's mom and manager, Tina Douglas, a text message containing a photo of a man's penis.
"I had sent adult content photos, but I was like, 'Hey, show Ashanti this,'" he said. "And the reason I did this was because I was told they're a tight-knit family."
He also maintained the Grammy-winning pop star led him on in a romantic way but turned him down after a "fallout" he had with producer Irv Gotti, who he claimed was interested in offering him a record deal.
"Some women will purposely test a guy to see if he's a punk," Hurd said.
