The rapper, Rakim Mayers a.k.a. A$AP Rocky, has been charged with assault and was arrested on 3rd July in Stockholm, Sweden.
Soon after, a video where he can be seen fighting someone surfaced online. A$AP insisted that he had acted in self-defence against the men who were following his group for a while.
A total of 3 videos were posted online including the 2 which were posted by A$AP showing the series of events unfolding. Two men were seen following the Rapper and his crew even after being confronted by A$AP several times and were requested to stop following them. The second video also shows similar requests and arguments between the two men and the Rapper’s bodyguards. The 3rd video which became the evidence for the charge of the assault shows A$AP rocky viciously punching and beating one of the men along with his crew.
The trial is set to start on 30th July. The prosecutor of Sweden decided to charge him with the crime after studying the available video despite the claims of self-defence made by A$AP Rocky.
In Sweden, an assault on a person causing physical harm carries a maximum of two years prison sentence. The alleged assault happened on 30th June and A$AP has been in the custody of the Swedish police since 3rd July.
The arrest has created quite a stir in the entertainment world and the Swedish police has been criticised for partial behaviour against him. Some have even be accused of being racist.
A$AP’s mother has pleaded for his release pointing out that “he isn’t eating properly” and claiming that he is just being made an example of. G-Easy, American Rapper, also posted on his Instagram handle, suggesting that this case is an example of systematic racism. His post with a picture of himself with A$AP Rocky read, “Exclusive. A$AP Rocky treated differently than white rapper.”
Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian also stepped in and requested US President Donald Trump to intervene in the matter. Following which Donald Trump tweeted on 20th July saying, “Just had a very good call with @SwedishPM Stefan Lofven who assured me that American citizen A$AP Rocky will be treated fairly. Likewise, I assured him that A$AP was not a flight risk and offered to personally vouch for his bail, or an alternative….”
