Authorities in Sweden indicate entertainer Rakim Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, was arrested in Stockholm after surrendering to police in connection with a street fight late last month.
He was reportedly in the city to perform in a music festival on June 30 when he said his party was “minding their own business” and a group of people became aggressive toward them, leading to a brawl.
Back in his home country, Politico cited a U.S. State Department source who confirmed the rapper’s ongoing detention has been the topic of briefings for officials as high up the agency’s ladder as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Among those reportedly addressing the international issue is Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Robert O’Brien.
According to the department spokesperson, “some facts about the arrest and detention” have raised “concerns” about Sweden’s treatment of Mayers — including assertions that he has been held in solitary confinement without charges. According to that country’s law, prosecutors reportedly have to either bring criminal counts against him by Friday or petition a court for more time to prepare the charges.
An attorney representing the entertainer, however, says it is past time for his client to return home.
“President Trump has made bringing home unjustly held Americans a top priority for his administration,” Alan Jackson said. “The State Department’s interest in this case gives us great home for Rocky’s situation.”
An array of fellow artists and several U.S. elected officials have also joined the growing chorus calling for his release.
Recalling the incident, one person close to the rapper said the other people involved “were obviously spoiling for a fight,” adding that Mayers and the others around him “had no choice but to defend themselves.”
Mayers also shared video of the encounter in an effort to show the other group as the aggressors in the situation.
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[Featured image: Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File]
