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Shortly after winning three Grammy Awards, Killer Mike (real name: Michael Santiago Render) was taken away in handcuffs and arrested at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 4. A social media video of the rapper, 48, went viral just a few minutes before music’s biggest night began.
According to the viral video, Mike was seen being led through the lobby of the arena with his hands cuffed behind his back. One police officer had his arm around Mike’s arm, leading the music artist out of the location. A person in the background of the clip was heard yelling, “Free Mike!”
The next day, Mike briefly spoke about the incident when pressed about it during a radio interview.
“I won a Grammy. We partied all night,” he revealed on Monday, February 5, per The New York Times. “Shout out to my record label. Ain’t nothing had happened, man. But we winners, that’s it. We hit a speed bump, and then, we head[ed] back to the party, man.”
After winning three #GRAMMYs tonight, Rapper Killer Mike was arrested in the arena.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 5, 2024
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed on Twitter that Mike was arrested after being involved in a “physical altercation” and booked for misdemeanor battery.
“On Sunday February 4th just after 4pm a male adult was detained & handcuffed for a physical altercation that occurred at the 700 block of Chick Hearn Court. The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division. The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released,” the LAPD said.
The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released.
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) February 5, 2024
According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s Chris Gardner, “an official” told Mike’s team during the Grammy Awards “that it’s possible he may be released later tonight from the arena,” he tweeted, adding, “Unclear if he’s being booked here and what he’s charged with. Trying to find out.”
In a follow-up tweet, Chris wrote, “Just spoke to an official who tells me it’s a misdemeanor and has nothing to do with anything that happened today here inside the arena. Likely he will be released once it’s sorted.”
Harvey Mason Jr is now headed backstage after spending time here talking to security and Killer Mike’s team. The scene by security has calmed but Mike is still detained back there. pic.twitter.com/RB7zfRUumD
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) February 5, 2024
Chris also noted that a member from Mike’s team decline to comment.
Just hours beforehand, the “RUN” rapper accepted three awards, including Best Rap Album. Per THR, Mike delivered his thank-you speech to the audience, and began by saying, “You cannot tell me you get too old. You cannot tell me it’s too late.”
“For all the people out there that think you get too old to rap — bulls**t,” Mike said. “I don’t give a damn if you’re 78 rapping about how many gals you got in the nursing home, make sure we keep hip-hop alive.”
