Akon in hot water for tossing fan from stage
R&B/hip-hop singer Akon faced police scrutiny this week after he tossed a teenage concertgoer off stage Sunday (6/3).
The incident, which took place in Fishkill, NY,--video footage of which has since been widely circulated over the Internet--began with a spectator tossing something at the singer during his performance, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper. Akon then asked the crowd to identify the culprit and had event security bring the fan to the stage, according to various report.
In the video posted at the newspaper's website, Akon hoists the unidentified teen, who appeared to be about 15, onto his shoulders before throwing him back into the audience. The teen then landed on spectator Abby Rosa, who told the newspaper that she had a headache and blurry vision immediately afterward, and was later diagnosed with a concussion. The woman said that she has talked to the Fishkill police about the incident, and also expects an apology from the singer.
"We're trying to identify that kid, just to find out whether or not we have any kind of criminal offense," Detective Lt. John Berlingieri of the Fishkill Police told the Poughkeepsie newspaper. "We are looking to speak to him. No victim. No crime."
Town officials told the newspaper that the boy was not hurt and left the stadium after declining medical treatment, and before talking to local police.
Akon is not a stranger to controversy. During an April 12 show in the island nation of Trinidad, the performer was videotaped onstage engaging in a sexually explicit dance with a 14-year-old girl. Akon later apologized, claiming that he didn't know the girl was underage and that he had understood that everyone at the Trinidad concert was supposed to have been 18 or older.
As a result of that incident, which also gained wide circulation on the Internet, Verizon pulled out of sponsoring Akon's current tour with Gwen Stefani.
The singer is scheduled to play a concert with Stefani tonight (6/8) in Tinley Park, IL. The tour continues through the latter part of June.
Gwen Stefani w/ Akon
June 2007
8 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
10 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
12 - Edmonton, Canada - Rexall Place
13 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
15 - Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
16 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater
18 - Marysville, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
19 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater
22, 23 - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
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