Following the viral footage of 50 Cent throwing a microphone into the audience at his Los Angeles show, the rapper has denied intentionally hurting a fan.
The rapper seems to have thrown a microphone off the stage while playing on stage at Cryto.com Arena on Wednesday, according to a video acquired by USA TODAY. According to NBC News and Rolling Stone, the microphone was reportedly “non-functioning equipment.”
Soon after, someone gave 50 Cent a different microphone, but according to Rolling Stone, that one “was evidently also not working.” The second mic is launched with what appears to be more force this time, as seen on video, to the same location on stage. Pyrotechnics were fired into the air at the front of the stage as the scene was being performed.
In a statement provided to USA TODAY on Friday, the rapper’s attorney, Scott Leemon, refuted charges that his client intended to strike a fan.
Leemon also stated that he discussed the event with the police.
Let’s be clear: My client Curtis would never purposefully assault anybody with a microphone, as I told LAPD this afternoon, Leemon stated. “Anyone expressing a different opinion is inaccurate and lacking in knowledge,”
The video does not show the person in the crowd who was allegedly struck by the microphone.
Police say there was no incident report or charges brought.
Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department informed USA TODAY that he could not find a report being filed at the venue or an LAPD phone response.