FACT CHECK: No, Rapper Killer Mike Was Not Arrested For Political Statements Made In An Interview
Killer Mike was not arrested for any political statement.
Maher begs rapper Killer Mike to endorse Biden over Trump — but it quickly becomes a mistake: 'Get his head out of his a**'
Rapper Killer Mike refused on Friday to endorse President Joe Biden despite pleas from Bill Maher.
During an interview on HBO's "Real Time," Maher pressed the legendary rapper, whose real name is Michael Render, for his perspective about the upcoming election.
At first, Render responded with wise advice.
"My feeling is: Pick your policy, not your person. This is not the Dallas Cowboys versus your favorite team. This is the policies that will affect our generations for the next 20, 30, 40 years to come. So close your eyes and listen to the policies that are being pushed," he said. "Make it policy-based."
But that answer wasn't sufficient for Maher, who pushed Render to choose between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
"This time, I'm gonna keep my mouth closed," Render responded.
"You can't get yourself to say 'vote for Biden over Trump'?'" Maher pleaded.
The answer to that question, Render made clear, is a resounding, "No." Instead, Render listed multiple reasons why he doesn't support Biden.
"Can he get himself to apologize for the [1994] crime bill? Can he get himself to get his head out of his ass and say 'black people, you are black regardless? I need you to tell me what I need to do,'" the rapper responded. "Can he pick a coalition of former people who were affected by drug law, street gangs, recidivism, and crime and say, 'I need you as a board to advise me how to fix federal prisons'? If he can do that, absolutely I can. So my challenge is out."
— (@)
In the 2020 election, Biden infamously declared that black Americans aren't black if they don't vote for him.
Four years later, a growing number of black voters are moving away from Biden and toward the Republican Party — and even Trump. But make no mistake about it: Donald Trump will not win the majority of black voters in the 2024 election.
But the poll data prove the Democratic Party's assumptions about black voters — as demonstrated by Biden's comment in 2020 — are creating more disillusionment than ever among black voters, pushing them away from the party that promises to help them but never actually does.
Killer Mike on "Michael" | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) www.youtube.com
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Watch: Killer Mike wins 3 Grammy Awards, but then is seen being escorted out in handcuffs by police
Rapper Killer Mike had a bitter-sweet experience at the 66th annual Grammy Awards ceremony as he won in three categories, but ended up being escorted out in handcuffs by police.
At the 2024 Grammy Awards, Michael Santiago Render – best known as Killer Mike – was awarded best rap song and best rap performance for "Scientists & Engineers," and best rap album for "Michael." "Scientists & Engineers" features Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane. The award was his first Grammy in more than two decades.
After winning the third award, the Atlanta-based rapper shouted, “Sweep! Atlanta, it’s a sweep!”
The victory was short-lived as the 48-year-old rapper was detained and arrested by Los Angeles Police Department officers at Crypto.com Arena.
"At around 4 p.m., an individual was detained at [Crypto.com Arena] for a physical altercation," a LAPD spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. "The individual is currently being questioned. I cannot confirm the identity of the individual until the person is charged. The investigation is ongoing."
An arena security official told THR that Render was detained for a reason that is unrelated to the Grammy Awards.
However, the Associated Press reported, "Police spokesperson Officer Mike Lopez said Mike being detained stemmed from an altercation inside the arena around 4 p.m."
Before being arrested, the rapper said of earning a Grammy Award, “For all the people out there that think you get too old to rap, bulls**t. I don’t give a damn if you’re 78 rapping about how many gals you got in the nursing home, make sure we keep hip-hop alive.”
THR did not receive a comment from Killer Mike's team, the Recording Academy, and CBS.
Killer Mike – a member of Run the Jewels – won his first Grammy Award in 2003 for best rap performance by a duo or group for “The Whole World,” with his collaboration with OutKast.
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