An American Rapper Was Arrested In Sweden. TMZ Made Him Look Guilty. Then He Posted His Own Video.

American rapper A$AP Rocky was involved in an altercation with two men in Sweden, which ended in one of the two men bloodied. Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, voluntarily went to Stockholm police for questioning after the incident. He was arrested and is reportedly now being held in solitary confinement.

TMZ posted a clip of the incident on July 2 shortly after it happened. The outlet reported it in such a way that Rocky and his crew looked guilty:
TMZ obtained video that starts with the rapper having an intense convo with a couple of guys at Max restaurant in Stockholm Sunday night ... allegedly over Rocky breaking a pair of their headphones earlier.
Our sources say the 2 young men kept following AR and threatened to call the cops over the headphones. We're told someone stepped in to translate the argument between the 2 parties, and Rocky delivered this message -- stop following us ... or else.
TMZ also reported that “witnesses” told them Rocky and his entourage started the fight after a woman told them one of the men had inappropriately touched her earlier. TMZ’s sources said Rocky and his entourage “then took off, leaving the guy knocked out on the ground.”
Rocky had posted his own video of the encounter on July 2, which TMZ didn’t include in its initial report. The outlet began including Rocky’s videos in subsequent reports.
One video Rocky posted shows his bodyguard telling the men to stop following them, to which one of the men responds he wants his headphones back and says “you smashed my headphones.”
In another video, one can see that it was one of the followers — not the bodyguard — that broke the headphones. One of the men following the rapper actually smashes the headphones on the bodyguard and they shatter. The bodyguard continues to tell the men to stop following Rocky but they persist.
TMZ reported that Swedish prosecutors told them the bodyguard was released from prison due to “insufficient evidence,” but that Rocky would remain for his part in the brawl.
The State Department is now involved in the case, Politico reported, and is concerned about the conditions of the prison where Rocky was held.
“There are certainly some facts about the arrest and detention that raise concerns,” a State Department spokesperson told the outlet. “We expect all governments, including Sweden, to treat American citizens fairly and with respect. … We hope to see ASAP Rocky and his colleagues back on tour and reunited with friends and family soon.”
Alan Jackson, Rocky’s attorney, told Politico that he has “great hope” for the rapper after the State Department showed interest.
“President Trump has made bringing home unjustly held Americans a top priority for his administration. The State Department’s interest in the case gives us great hope for Rocky’s situation,” Jackson said.
“Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador O’Brien have been relentless in their diplomatic efforts on behalf of American citizens being held all over the world. Rocky’s millions of fans worldwide are putting their trust in the State Department to get Rocky home.”
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