Artist News Legal

Tyler, The Creator arrested at SXSW after encouraging queuing fans to push in

By | Published on Monday 17 March 2014

Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator was arrested as he was leaving Austin late last week over an alleged incident at one of his shows at the South By Southwest festival.

The Odd Future rapper was one of the artists to have a show cancelled at SXSW last week after an allegedly drunk driver smashed through barricades set up for the city festival and drove into festival-goers queuing for shows, killing two people. But the incident that caused Tyler himself to be arrested occurred the next night at the showcase event.

According to Austin police, there was a sizable crowd queuing up to get into the rapper’s show on Thursday night, the management of which became tricky after Tyler allegedly shouted from the stage, “All y’all outside the gates, y’all push through”.

Officers claim the rapper suggested those outside push into the already at-capacity venue twice, resulting in unruly behaviour from those waiting to get in. Police reps say the rapper then apologised, swore about the venue’s door staff and walked off stage.

Confirming that Tyler had subsequently been arrested at Austin-Bergstrom Airport in relation to the incident, a statement from the Austin Police Department reads: “Regardless of the size of a crowd, the encouragement of unruly and unlawful behaviour is against the law and cannot be tolerated”.

The rapper stands accused of “encouraging behaviour causing an immediate danger and injury to persons”, which could result in a year in jail and a $4000 fine if he was to be convicted of the crime.

Assuming that doesn’t happen, the Odd Future frontman has just promised to play a solo show at The Forum in London on 23 Jul. Though whatever you do, queue nicely at the door.



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