In an exclusive statement to Billboard, A$AP Bari has denounced the explicit video that leaked online Wednesday night that appears to show the A$AP Mob co-founder trying to force a woman to give him oral sex and has denied that he was arrested by British authorities, as had been rumored.
“A misleading video clip featuring adult content and activity has been released to the public without my knowledge or consent,” Bari says in the statement. “Comments about myself or anyone being detained or arrested are false. We have resolved this issue amicably among all parties as adults. We were friends before this and will remain friends afterwards. Being raised by strong women who taught me to respect everyone, I’m disappointed in the situation as well as myself and will reflect on the situation appropriately.”
In the video — which was tweeted and deleted on Wednesday but was then picked up by Reddit and other Twitter accounts — Bari (born Jabari Shelton) says, “You f—ed my assistant. Now you’re going to suck my d–k.” The woman responds, “No, no, stop it, Bari, honestly stop” and flees from the bed as Bari, 25, pulls off the covers and smacks her butt while he says “shut the f— up, bitch.” The clip ends with her fleeing the room.
A woman claiming to be the girl from the video tweeted several times Thursday (July 13), saying Bari was apprehended by U.K. police and was still being held, but her account is no longer active on Twitter.
In addition to his role in founding A$AP Mob, Bari co-founded the Mob-associated VLONE clothing line.