Los Angeles, Feb 5, 2024 – Rapper and activist Killer Mike Arrested, who won three awards at the 64th Grammy Awards on Sunday night, was detained by IRS agents shortly after the ceremony for alleged tax evasion. He was escorted out of the Crypto.com Arena in handcuffs and taken to a federal facility for questioning.
Killer Mike Arrested
According to the IRS, Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Render, owes more than $10 million in unpaid taxes from 2019 to 2021. The agency claims that he failed to report his income from his music, podcast, and business ventures, and used offshore accounts and shell companies to hide his assets.
Killer Mike’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, said that his client is innocent and that the arrest is a “political witch hunt” aimed at silencing his voice. He said that Killer Mike arrested has been a vocal critic of the government’s policies on racial justice, economic inequality, and police brutality and that he has been targeted for his activism.
“Killer Mike is a Grammy-winning artist, a successful entrepreneur, and a respected leader in his community. He has always paid his fair share of taxes and complied with the law. This blatantly attempts to intimidate and silence him for speaking the truth to power. We will fight this injustice and clear his name,” Crump said in a statement.
Several celebrities and fans have supported Killer Mike on social media, using the hashtag #FreeKillerMike. Among them are his fellow rappers and collaborators Big Boi, El-P, and Jay-Z, who called him a “brother and a hero”. They also urged the public to sign a petition demanding his release and to donate to his legal defense fund.
Killer Mike, who is a member of the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, won the Grammys for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance. He dedicated his awards to his family, fans, and fellow activists. He also performed his hit song “Walking in the Snow” at the show, which features the lyrics “And every day on the evening news, they feed you fear for free / And you so numb, you watch the cops choke out a man like me / And ’til my voice goes from a shriek to whisper, ‘I can’t breathe’”.
Killer Mike is expected to appear in court on Monday morning. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Killer Mike arrested due to his unpaid taxes but soon he will be free.
Also Read: Grammy Awards 2024: Who Won and Why?
