Footage is circulating of Grammy-winning rapper and activist Killer Mike being detained by law enforcement at the 66th annual Grammy Awards.
In a post to X, Hollywood Reporter staff writer Chris Gardener shared a video of the artist, who won three Grammys earlier tonight for his 2023 album Michael, being escorted out of the Crypto.com arena by law enforcement officials.
Also known as half of the duo Run the Jewels, Killer Mike’s sixth album is both an origin story and a vehicle for the rapper’s social and political critique. It’s his first solo effort in more than a decade.
In the video, a bystander can be heard asking, “Are you serious? What the f*ck?”
In the caption, Gardener writes, “Breaking: Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in http://Crypto.com arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for ‘Scientists & Engineers,’ Best Rap Album for Michael) ‘Free Mike’ someone shouts as he walks past.”
Users began to speculate on the timing of Killer Mike’s detainment. One user wrote, “Whew, what a way to ruin the night. I hope this doesn’t take away from the monumental things he just earned.”
Some speculated that the cause might have something to do with perceived Grammy politics. “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” won in a category that included Nicki Minaj’s collaboration with Ice Spice, “Barbie World.” As one user wrote, “THAT ONIKA VOODOO WORKSSSS.”
In a second post, Gardener writes, “An official tells someone on his team that it’s possible he may be released later tonight from the arena. Unclear if he’s being booked here and what he’s charged with. Trying to find out. #Grammys.”
In a third post, Gardener reported, “Just spoke to an official who tells me it’s a misdemeanor and has nothing to do with anything that happened today here inside the arena. Likely he will be released once it’s sorted. ‘It’s a big nothing,’ source says.”
One user wrote, “It’s definitely ‘a big something’ to arrest somebody over a misdemeanor at all much less in front of that many people at an event like that. Ridiculous.”
The Daily Dot reached out to a representative of Killer Mike via email for comment.
Update 10:14pm CT, Feb. 4: The Grammys telecast showed Killer Mike’s win on-screen during a montage.
