Akon is facing criminal charges after a fan said she suffered a concussion when the hip-hop star tossed a teenager off the stage and onto her in the concert crowd.
Akon, 34, is scheduled to appear in Fishkill Town Court in Fishkill, N.Y. on Monday morning for arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation, according to a news release from Police Chief Donald Williams.
Audience members said that during a June 3 show at Dutchess Stadium, a spectator lobbed something at Akon and that the singer asked the crowd to point out the culprit. A security guard picked out a 15-year-old and sent him up to the stage, where Akon hoisted him onto his shoulders and flung him into the crowd.
The boy landed on Abby Rosa, who told the Poughkeepsie Journal she was later found to have a concussion. She said she has hired a lawyer and spoken to Fishkill police.
The singer's Manhattan lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, released a statement a few days after the show saying there was no basis for criminal charges. A call to his office wasn't immediately returned.
In April, Akon also drew criticism for having on-stage simulated sex with a 14-year-old girl at a concert in Trinidad. He later apologized, saying he didn't realize the girl was underage. The incident led Verizon to withdraw its sponsorship of Akon's tour with Gwen Stefani, with whom he performs on her hit "The Sweet Escape."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Akon, 34, is scheduled to appear in Fishkill Town Court in Fishkill, N.Y. on Monday morning for arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation, according to a news release from Police Chief Donald Williams.
Audience members said that during a June 3 show at Dutchess Stadium, a spectator lobbed something at Akon and that the singer asked the crowd to point out the culprit. A security guard picked out a 15-year-old and sent him up to the stage, where Akon hoisted him onto his shoulders and flung him into the crowd.
The boy landed on Abby Rosa, who told the Poughkeepsie Journal she was later found to have a concussion. She said she has hired a lawyer and spoken to Fishkill police.
The singer's Manhattan lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, released a statement a few days after the show saying there was no basis for criminal charges. A call to his office wasn't immediately returned.
In April, Akon also drew criticism for having on-stage simulated sex with a 14-year-old girl at a concert in Trinidad. He later apologized, saying he didn't realize the girl was underage. The incident led Verizon to withdraw its sponsorship of Akon's tour with Gwen Stefani, with whom he performs on her hit "The Sweet Escape."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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