Rapper-Killer Mike injured a security guard at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, which would explain why he was arrested after winning three Grammy awards on Sunday.
The 48-year-old artist flatly rejected this information in a statement provided to Rolling Stone.
The magazine reports that the Atlanta rapper, whose real name is Michael Render, had a disagreement with his assigned security guard near the entrance. The woman told police she asked Render to show her his tickets to direct him to a security checkpoint. She claims Render tried to get around her and she managed to get back in front of him and then he “pushed her to the ground,” according to a source.
Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP
The security guard apparently suffered injuries to her hand and fingers, a Los Angeles police source said.
She called for help and other security officers surrounded Render and then called police.
A medical team then attended to the security guard. His alleged injuries were photographed and Render was arrested for assault.
In his statement to Rolling Stone, Render denies everything. “As you can imagine, it was busy and there was some confusion as to which door my team and I should enter through. We encountered an overzealous security guard, but my team and I are confident that I will ultimately be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
“The situation is disproportionate, but we are confident that the facts in this case, when they come to light, will show that Mike did not commit the alleged crime and that he will be exonerated,” a source in the rapper's team added added.
Killer Mike, which was later released, won best rap album, best rap song and best rap performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
Double standards compared to Will Smith?
In its article, Rolling Stone recalls the incident at the Oscars in 2022, when Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock in the face on camera without being arrested. He was able to calmly return to his seat and continued to attend the awards ceremony hosted by his victim.
A source within the justice system said there was “a big difference” between the Will Smith case and the Killer Mike case.
“Chris Rock didn’t want to press charges, he didn’t want to be arrested. He was a fellow artist and I guess they sorted it out themselves. If Chris Rock had said, ‘I want to arrest a citizen,’ that would have been an honor.”