R&B singer/songwriter Akon is defending rapper Nelly after he was arrested on Saturday following a rape accusation.
“I’m 100 percent positive he’s innocent,” Akon tells TMZ. “I don’t see Nelly forcing no one (to have sex with him). It just doesn’t make sense.”
Akon went on to claim that women today are setting artists up for a payday while destroying their brand in the process.
“Half the time they set up a charge just for us to settle up, just so we don’t have to deal with the embarrassment or go through the process of hiding it, because once you got that stigma, it’s on you, whether you’re innocent or guilty,” he says.
Nelly, who says he wasn’t charged for the incident, also stated he is “completely innocent” of sexual assault allegations hours after he was taken into custody over complaints that he molested an unnamed woman on his tour bus.
In a statement, released via Twitter on Saturday, Nelly wrote: “I am completely innocent. I am confident that once the facts are looked at, it will be very clear that I am the victim of a false allegation.”
He also apologized to his family and friends for “the embarrassment and for putting myself in a situation where I could be victimized by this false and defaming allegation…,” and added, “To be absolutely clear. I have not been charged with a crime therefore no bail was required. I was released (from custody), pending further investigation.”
Nelly’s lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, tells TMZ, “Nelly is the victim of a completely fabricated allegation. Our initial investigation, clearly establishes the allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness. I am confident, once the scurrilous accusation is thoroughly investigated, there will be no charges. Nelly is prepared to pursue all legal avenues to redress any damage caused by this clearly false allegation.”
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