Killer Mike is suing the two security companies the Recording Academy hired for the 2024 Grammy Awards, where the rapper was arrested in public.
On Monday, Mike's legal team filed a lawsuit against S&S Labor Force Inc. and JRM Private Security, seeking damages for his arrest at last year's show. According to the lawsuit, event security stopped him from going to the red carpet for interviews and photos even though he had the necessary credentials.
Mike claimed the Recording Academy gave the security teams too much power that night when they physically assaulted and put him under citizen's arrest under false pretenses in front of several people. The lawsuit also stated the incident caused Mike emotional distress, public embarrassment, and humiliation.
In addition to security arresting him, Mike said the incident led to police taking him into custody for several hours, which prevented him from presenting a Grammy Award.
John R. McKillop, President of S&S Labor Force Inc., wrote a statement to TMZ stating, "[The company] takes pride in our commitment to ethical practices and the safety of our employees, clients, and guests. We have thorough protocols in place to ensure all actions taken by our security personnel adhere to the law and our company standards. The claim in question appears to be based on misinformation and lacks credible evidence."
He continued, "S&S Labor Force Inc. remains dedicated to serving our community with integrity and professionalism. We appreciate your attention to this matter and hope for a prompt correction regarding the misinformation disseminated."
Mike's arrest was recorded by witnesses and shared on social media, quickly going viral as the rapper had won three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, right before the incident. Police charged Mike with misdemeanor battery, which he cleared up in a statement at the time. Prosecutors ended up not pursuing criminal charges against Mike.
"As you can imagine, there was a lot going and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter," Mike said in a statement Tuesday. "We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the utmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing."
