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Artist News Legal
Tyler, The Creator didn’t incite any riot, say lawyer and manager
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 21 March 2014
Tyler, The Creator didn’t incite any rioting at SXSW last week. So says his lawyer, anyway. And he’s being paid to have that opinion, so it must be true.
As previously reported, Austin police claim that the rapper suggested those outside his Thursday night showcase push into the already at-capacity venue twice, resulting in unruly behaviour from those waiting to get in. Police reps say the rapper then apologised, swore about the venue’s door staff and walked off stage.
However, lawyer man Perry Q Minton said in a statement to the Associated Press yesterday: “At no time during the concert did Tyler seek to incite or participate in riotous activity as has been reported in the press. It is clear from video clips and witness reports that the patrons and fans attending the show on that date were full of positive energy appropriate for this type of event and never exhibited any anger or aggression whatsoever”.
He added: “For law enforcement or the media to describe the rush of fans through the gate and the subsequent benign, boisterous activity as a riot is an unfortunate and inaccurate description of what occurred. Tyler is not a violent individual and would never deliberately engage in any activity that would put another person at risk of being hurt”.
Tyler’s manager Christian Clancy also commented on the incident yesterday, describing it in a blog post as a “punk rock moment”, but also denied that it constituted a riot.
Addressing a short video released by police, Clancy added: “The energy and intent of that show was not anger or aggression… Kumbaya? Of course not. But this simply isn’t as its being portrayed. No one was hurt. You likely don’t believe me (I get it), [but] find the whole show on YouTube – just seeing an edited seven seconds of kids running/walking in doesn’t exactly sum it up”.
The rapper was arrested on Saturday at the Austin-Bergstrom Airport, as he prepared to catch a flight to Dallas for another show. He was charged with misdemeanour riot incitement and released on $25,000 in time to get to his Dallas gig that night.
If convicted, he faces a year in prison and a $4000 fine.
