Update (July 25, 2019): A$AP Rocky was charged with assault Thursday for a June 30 incident in central Stockholm, Sweden.
The New York Times reports the 30-year-old will remain in custody until his trial begins next Tuesday. Swedish prosecutors proceeded to charge the rapper “despite claims of self-defense and provocation.”
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been detained in a Swedish jail since July 3 for allegedly attacking 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari who'd assaulted his bodyguard. Public prosecutor Daniel Suneson reportedly reviewed the Instagram videos and CCTV camera footage from the incident.
The witness statements and footage was enough to prosecute.
"I have today commenced criminal proceedings against the three individuals suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defense and provocation,” Suneson said in a statement via Variety.
In addition to Mayers, two other men who are reportedly in his entourage have been charged. Rocky could face an earnings-based fine or a maximum of two years in prison if convicted. The other two members of the entourage will face a trial as well.
Original story: A$AP Rocky has been detained in a Swedish jail following an alleged assault of Stockholm man.
The New York Times reports a Swedish court ruled the rapper to be a possible flight risk. The 30-year-old was in Stockholm for a week before a concert, the Times reports. On June 30, ASAP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was captured in a video asking a pair of men to leave him and his entourage alone.
In two Instagram videos, the men can be seen following Mayers. The men were allegedly sexually assaulting women on the streets during the strange encounter. One of the men can be seen throwing headphones at the security guard at one point.
“So a few drug addicts are not my fans. We don’t know these guys and we didn’t want trouble,” the rapper wrote under one of the two Instagram videos he posted. “They followed us for 4 blocks and they were slapping girls butts who passed. Give me a break.”
The multiple videos suggest the artist only acted in self-defense.
A Swedish newspaper reportedly has video of Rocky bodyslamming/hurling one of the men involved to the ground. According to Pitchfork, the "A$AP Forever" artist was arrested on July 3 and charged with aggravated assault, which was reduced to assault.
The rapper's lawyer, Henrik Olsson Lilja, said his client will miss major concerts scheduled on his tour.
"He, of course, is very disappointed and this is a catastrophe for his tour.”
Lilja plans to appeal the decision.
Mayers will reportedly be held for two weeks and could face up to six years in prison if convicted. A$AP Ferg wrote on Instagram his fellow A$AP Mob member was unable to make phone calls and was in solitary confinement.
“They are trying to keep him there for 2 weeks and if convicted he will be looking at 6 years just for defending himself in a fight,” Ferg wrote. “He was no way in form the aggressor in this ordeal. Pray for justice.”
If the investigation by authorities prove Rocky initiated the assault, a trial would occur. For now, a prosecutor will have to decide if there is sufficient evidence to get a conviction.
