RAPPER Killer Mike has been taken away from the Grammys in handcuffs after winning three awards.
The artist swept the rap category before a reporter captured a video of him being escorted out of the Crypto.com arena around 7.30 pm.
He collected the gong for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for Scientists & Engineers, and Best Rap Album for Michael.
A writer with The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Gardner, has been documenting the detention of Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Santiago Render, via X (formerly Twitter).
Gardner wrote: "Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in [Crypto.com] arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast."
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The artist could be seen being escorted by two police officers while people from his team trailed behind.
As they all walked a bystander yelled: "Free Mike."
Gardner reported that an official said the artist's detention at the Grammys was related to a misdemeanor that occurred prior to today.
A source said "It’s a big nothing" with an official telling the rapper's team that he could be released the same night.
Some fans questioned how small the related crime could be if police decided to detain the artist during such a public event.
One X user wrote: "Weird that they'd treat a public person like this over a misdemeanor, full perp walk and dressing down."
Another questioned: "A big nothing? Then why arrest him at this moment?!"
Another theory is that Killer Mike's detention is related to an incident that occurred DURING the awards show tonight.
According to TMZ, a law enforcement contact said that Killer Mike's detention at the Grammys was related to a physical altercation with a security guard at the event and they were attempting to sort out what occurred.
The LAPD has since confirmed the reason behind the rapper's arrest.
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"On Sunday, February 4th just after 4 pm a male adult was detained & handcuffed for a physical altercation that occurred at the 700 block of Chick Hearn Court," the police department said in a post on X.
"The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division.
"The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released."
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the police regarding the incident.
Render's arrest comes after the artist spoke out about the Young Thug YSL case in May of 2023.
Killer Mike told Good Morning America at the time: "The side of town he comes from -- Cleveland Avenue, southeast Atlanta -- has been wrought with poverty forever … he managed to escape the streets using rap lyrics, and he's managed to help people change their lives."
The artist is a long-time activist fighting against the use of rap lyrics in court cases, as was allowed in the YSL case.
He explained: "Young Thug -- that's a character that Jeffrey Williams created … but Jeffrey Williams is a father.
"He's a human being that's capable of love, care, and compassion."
Following his detention at the Grammys, fans and colleagues alike are speaking out.
Artist Meek Mill wrote in an X post: "To arrest killer Mike immediately after the Grammies propaganda…. A lot of people are questioning the decision making and bases of the award choosing in the gen z era… their timing to award black men be totally off!"
Fans are similarly outraged at the timing.
One X user wrote: "If anyone is actually wondering, Killer Mike got arrested for a misdemeanor which is bulls**t to arrest him at the biggest night of his life."
Another commented on Gardner's post: "Ridiculous! If it’s nothing, why not wait until after the Grammys!"
Another fan shared: "There is no reason to arrest him at the Grammys? WTH."
Some fans pointed to race as a contributing factor in the decision to detain the artist on such a monumental night.
A viewer posted: "It’s a big something when a Black musical artist gets arrested on the biggest stage of the industry."
And another argued: "They did this for a misdemeanor? No way would that have happened if he were white."
LAPD has yet to respond to the U.S. Sun for comment.
