Rapper Akon is in the middle of yet another Youtube controversy. A video of the “Locked Up” singer recently found it’s way on to the net that shows him shoving then punching two women, knocking them off stage during a August 30th concert in South Africa.
In the video, Akon can be seen trying to crowd surf his way back to the stage using an overly aggressive crowd which almost rips his pants off. Two female fans are already there, awaiting his return and hoping to greet the Jersey rapper with a few innocent hugs. Akon, who may have taken the lyrics to his 2006 hit “Smack That” a little too literal, pushes one of the women right off of the stage then quickly turns around and responds to the second fan’s sign of appreciation with a right hook to her jaw.
This isn’t that first time Akon’s gratitude for his fan’s support has come in the form of a physical assault. On Wednesday, Akon was in court to answer misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment after he tossed a child from the stage into a crowd of young fans in the middle of a live concert last summer.
After pleading not guilty last December to the charges, this week Judge Harold Epstein granted his request to have his trial postponed until December 1st, 2008.
Akon’s lawyer, Andrea Zellan, released this statement regarding the Judge’s decision:
“Akon looks forward to putting this incident behind him, and in the meantime he will continue to meet every requirement set forth by the court.”
Cowardish fists and aerial audience members aren’t the only obstacles concert goers should watch out for when attending one of Akon’s performances. Last April Akon, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, lost his Verizon sponsorship when a video of him doing a sexually explicit dance onstage with a 15-year-old girl during a show in Trinidad hit the web.
Akon had this to say about the simulated rape after the discovering the girl’s actual age:
“I want to sincerely apologize for the embarrassment and any pain I’ve caused to the young woman who joined me onstage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert. It was never my intention to embarrass or take advantage of my fans in any way, especially those under the age of 18. That is why we tried to make sure that the club did not admit anyone under 18 in the audience,” he said. “Somehow, that standard was not met.”
No files have been charged by either women from the South African incident.
“Smack that, all on the floor. Smack that, give me some more. Smack that, ’til you get sore. Smack that, oh ooh.” on his 2006 hit track
-Akon ["Smack That"].
Tags: Akon, Concert, Female Fan, Girl, Hip-Hop, Hit, Punch, Rapper, South Africa, Stage