Fans and celebrities alike are calling for the release of rapper A$AP Rocky who is currently being detained in a prison in Sweden.
Footage emerged sometime last week of A$AP Rocky and his crew allegedly pushing a man to the floor. This incident led to the arrest of him and two of his entourage. They are currently being held in Stockholm for two weeks on pre-trial detention.
Rocky shared his own footage of the confrontation to his Instagram, showing one of the men involved hitting Rocky’s bodyguard with a pair of headphones and then following them around.
Rocky writes in the first video’s caption “SO A FEW DRUG ADDICTS ARE NOT MY FANS, WE DONT KNOW THESE GUYS AND WE DIDNT WANT TROUBLE, THEY FOLLOWED US FOR 4 BLOCKS, AND THEY WERE SLAPPING GIRLS BUTTS WHO PASSED, GIVE ME A BREAK.”
The second video’s caption reads “HITS SECURITY IN FACE WITH HEADPHONES THEN FOLLOW US”
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Footage provided by TMZ appears to show part of the attack.
According to Billboard, prosecutor Frederik Karlsson said that Rocky would be held on a lesser assault charge than what was originally demanded of him by the opposition.
Defence lawyer Henrik Olsson Lilja said that Rocky and his team were going to appeal the ruling, saying that “They were attacked and he made use of self-defence.”
Since his detainment in Sweden, a Change.org petition from A$AP Mob has surfaced demanding he be released from prison due to “inhumane conditions”. The signature has over 450 000 signatures as of Thursday morning.
“On Sunday, June 30th, A$AP Rocky, his bodyguard and two performers from his show acted in self-defense after two men followed, harassed and physically assaulted them in Stockholm,” the petition reads.
“Video footage shows the assailants following Rocky and his colleagues, even cutting off where they are trying to walk sometimes, while Rocky pleads to them that he does not want any issues.”
As per TMZ and their sources on Tuesday, “the rapper is sleeping on a yoga mat with no blankets” and he is in the cell next to a prisoner “with severe mental issues who slams his head against the concrete wall and hurls feces every which way… Feces that are not cleaned up.”
Frederik Wallin, described in a BBC News report as a “Sweden prison boss” has since refuted those claims, saying that while he can’t comment on the conditions of “individual prisoners”, he has claimed that prisons are in “good condition” and that he is not aware of any “current diseases”.
Swedish authorities have denied these claims, but that hasn’t stopped celebs and social media from lending their support.
In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Tyler The Creator said that there’s “no more Sweden for me, ever”.
no more sweden for me, ever
— Tyler, The Creator (@tylerthecreator) July 8, 2019
Post Malone has also lent his support in an Instagram post captioned “I stand with Rocky and his release from Swedish Officials.” The post also urges viewers to sign the Change.org petition.
Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Kris Jenner, Nicki Minaj, Cara Delevigne, Bad Bhabie, 2Chainz, Lil Yachty and so many more have lent their support to Rocky too. Check some of those out below.
Stand with @asvpxrocky. Support human rights. https://t.co/9wvQ6elSRy
— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) July 9, 2019
I performed in Jamaica before & when i got off the stage I was surrounded by police with guns drawn. They were ready 2 take me to jail b/c they said I forgot to bleep a couple curses…. I could make one mistake & go to jail in a diff country where women have no rights. #FreeAsap
— MEGATRON (@NICKIMINAJ) July 10, 2019
Swedish Officials: #JusticeForRocky Demand that Rocky Be Released from Swedish Officials – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/eR01AS3GvU via @UKChange
— Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) July 9, 2019
