Killer Mike files lawsuit over Grammys arrest
Killer Mike has filed a lawsuit against private security companies over his arrest at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2024, the Atlanta rapper was detained and arrested by the LAPD for misdemeanour battery while trying to get onto the red carpet but was released from custody just hours later.
Mike is suing S&S Labor Force, Inc. and JRM Private Security for false arrest, assault, battery and other charges, claiming they had “no authority in law” to detain him and “no reason” to suspect him of any crime.
The lawsuit, obtained by Variety, reads, “Despite Plaintiff’s multiple attempts to clarify his identity and purpose for being in that secured area and his direct need to access the red carpet area for scheduled public statements and to take photographs, Defendants refused Plaintiff any forward movement.”
It continues, “When Plaintiff sought to leave the area, Defendants physically assaulted and battered him to prevent him from leaving by grabbing his arm and telling him to remain there.”
The lawsuit claims that the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office “declined to prosecute or charge” Mike after the altercation, “recognising [Mike] had not committed any criminal act.”
“Defendants knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that there was no justification in law to detain or use excessive force against Plaintiff at a Grammy Awards ceremony meant to celebrate his work,” the suit says. “Notwithstanding that knowledge, Defendants caused the false arrest and wrongful imprisonment of Plaintiff.”
Mike was nominated for three awards that year and won in all three categories, securing ‘Best Rap Album’ for Michael, and ‘Best Rap Song’ and ‘Best Rap Performance’ for ‘Scientists and Engineers’ featuring André 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane.
Following the incident, the Run the Jewels member stated he was confident that he would be cleared of any wrongdoing. “As you can imagine, there was a lot going and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter,” he told TMZ. “We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the upmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing.”