Rapper Killer Mike claims his arrest at the Grammys was because an overzealous security guard tried to stop him from entering the ceremony.
The 48-year-old musician and activist, whose real name is Michael Render, was led away from the Grammys in handcuffs following a “physical altercation” after winning three awards.
TMZ reported Sunday evening that Killer Mike had been charged with battery. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told that a man was being questioned but his identity could not be confirmed.
The rapper, who is perhaps best known for his work in the duo Run the Jewels and won trophies for his solo album Michael on Sunday, said the incident was all a misunderstanding.
“As you can imagine, there was a lot going on and there was some confusion about which door my team and I should enter through,” Render told TMZ on Monday.
“We experienced an overzealous security officer, but my team and I are confident that I will ultimately be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Rapper Killer Mike claims his arrest at the Grammys on Sunday was because an overzealous security guard tried to block him from entering the ceremony
The 48-year-old musician and activist, real name Michael Render, was led away from the Grammys in handcuffs following a “physical altercation” after winning three awards
The website claims that Killer Mike was given a hard time by the security guard when he and his entourage tried to attend the ceremony where he had already won three awards.
He then tried to get past the guard before being chased. This was a citizen's arrest that was caught on camera.
It's been a hectic 24 hours for the rapper, who learned Monday that his son Mikael “Pony Boy” Render has finally received a kidney transplant after three years of waiting.
Mikael suffers from kidney disease and has been waiting for a transplant for three years.
Video from Sunday's Grammys obtained by TMZ showed the rapper appearing to get into an argument with security guards as he walked outside in the rain – with someone carrying an umbrella over his head.
In the footage, the rapper appears to be trying to get past the security team and security appears to be trying to block him. There appeared to be a heated argument, and the rapper bumped a security guard in the shoulder while trying to walk around him.
The rapper, who is perhaps best known for his work in the duo Run the Jewels and won trophies for his solo album Michael on Sunday, said this all stemmed from a misunderstanding
It's been a hectic 24 hours for the rapper, who learned Monday that his son Mikael “Pony Boy” Render has finally received a kidney transplant after three years of waiting
Mikael suffers from kidney disease and has been waiting for a transplant for three years
The rapper is seen being taken away by the LAPD on Sunday evening
A moment later, the rapper can be seen being handcuffed.
As the rapper, born Michael Santiago Render, was brought back into the arena for questioning, someone yelled, “Free Mike!”
The rapper has not yet commented on the arrest.
Killer Mike is known for his political activism. He was a vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders and endorsed Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for his home state of Georgia.
Before he was handcuffed, the Atlanta-born star recalled backstage his journey to Grammy stardom.
“The only thing that limits your age is not being honest about your age or what you do,” he told the gathered media.
“When I was 20, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer.
“At 40, I started living with regrets and the things I had done.
“I started rapping about it when I was 45.
“At 48, I stand here as a man full of empathy and compassion for the things I have done.”