Akon Axed by Verizon Over Simulated Rape

Rapper Akon has been fired by Verizon -- and is being threatened with prosecution -- after he reportedly simulated a rape of a 15-year-old on stage during a concert in Trinidad a few weeks ago.

Verizon promoted Akon as one of the musicians on its mobile-phone music service, and said it would no longer sponsor the Gwen Stefani tour in which Akon, who recently performed on "American Idol," is the opening act.

The rapper invited 15-year-old Danah Alleyne onto the stage, and the girl obliged, thinking that she was entering a dance contest to win a "trip to Africa," as Akon promised. But when Alleyne "won" the contest, the "trip to Africa" turned out to be an on-stage encounter with Akon during which her "head was hitting the floor, said Alleyne to the Trinidad Express (via FOX News).

In its account of the incident, the Trinidad Express said that the "Smack That" rapper was "turning, twisting and even flipping [the girl's] body," while "mimicking sexual positions" and sandwiching the girl with the assistance of another performer. The Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said, in FOX News' report, that Akon should be prosecuted.

This isn't the first time Akon has done some sketchy work on stage. TMZ obtained exclusive footage of Tara Reid getting the Akon treatment during a party at the Sundance Film Festival.

A rep for Verizon told TMZ they were sponsoring Akon and made a decision this week to end the relationship for, as they called it, "reasons." Beyond that, the rep would not elaborate.

Filed under: Music

Reader Comments

(Page 12 of 12)Previous 15 Comments

166. Now Ive heard of this a while..where can u see the video? everone seems to have different opinion of the whole thing...

Posted at 12:25PM on Jun 4th 2007 by Mi

167. The girl in the Trinidad incident willingly jumped onstage, laid on her back and spread her legs. She was underaged in a club where you are supposed to be 18. She then posted the pics on her "MySpace" page where she said she was 19(she has since changed it to 15) and labeled the pics:" A very good time" I gave Akon a pass for that because he didn't know she was underage but now he had his bodyguard grab a 12-15 yr old kid who tossed a piece of paper or something, drag him onstage where Akon picked the kid up and tossed him int the crowd, something that could have seriously injured the kid. What's funny is that, had it not be a little kid Akon would not have done it. Coward. I haver never been a Akon fan but, now, I'm glad he's getting what's coming to him. He keeps acting the fool and, someday, somebody will probably cap him! As far as men degrading women, get a clue--when you eagerly jump onstage in front of a lot of people and allow it to happen you are degrading yourself!

Posted at 10:32AM on Jun 8th 2007 by jamstan

168. I agree with most of you, Regardless of age, this behavior is bull$µit. I love dancing and I bet if I had a few drinks in me and having fun at a concert with my friends I would not hesitate to dance on a stage... But that doesn't mean I would want to get tossed around like a rag doll!!! He needs to be smacked and then beat the crap out of. That girl also needs to be taught a lesson but she's young and perhaps just needs better parents. Although i'm amazed that Gwen would condone this "performance" to degrade her female audience, I don't think The Idiot should be held criminally reponsible, it was the club that failed to do their job. But Verizon was dead on with pulling their sponsorship, too bad they waited so long. Gwen get a more worthy opening act!

Posted at 9:04AM on Jun 15th 2007 by iMrITEuRnOT

169. it doesn't matter how you're dressed, or what tattoos you have (I personally, had a tattoo at the age of fourteen which my parents consented to)... I'm 21 and if I had been there and akon had whipped me out of the crowd and basically threw me to the floor and humped me violently, I would be suing. It is especially disturbing that the girl was 15, but something like that can only be considered assault, regardless of age, clothing, and tattoos. Stop being idiots, just because a girl is wearing a low shirt and has a tattoo and looks pretty doesn't mean she wants someone to toss her on the floor and ram himself against her. Get real.

Posted at 10:04PM on Jun 15th 2007 by Lyndsey

170. watching the video, akon has no reason to be at fault he grabbed her and lifted her up to dance... maybe to some people thats not a way to be dancing but lets be real now adays anything is called dancing,,,,,,,, anywho moral of my story is she could of backed off if she really did not want him to do that!! by the video she was enjoying it and did not look frightened or uncomfortable!!!!!!!!!

sorry people but it takes 2 to tango!!!!!!

Posted at 2:58PM on Jun 21st 2007 by cachetes

171. Akon is a homophobic pervert that will get busted eventually! I hope his music sales TANK!

Posted at 11:09PM on Jun 21st 2007 by BigPoppa

172. Did i hear people call it RAPE ? Yow... gimme a break! Akon aint done nothing wrong the girl was under age and should not have been there period. So please shut up your stinky little holes you call mouth and mind you damn business "haters". If you come from Africa to America and make it to the top like he did, sell the number of records he sold on his first album then that's when you can start talking about Akon being a bad person.
Akon seem be be in a lot of troube lately and its all because of people who call themselves his fans. Lets for Godsake buy his records and attend his concerts in peace instead of putting him in a mess all the time.

Brother all i got to say is .. hold your head up high and do your thing . We've got your back!

Asalamalaikum!!!

Posted at 9:49PM on Jun 22nd 2007 by Ya Fatou

173. The young girl should not have been at that concert in the beginning!!!!!!!!! I love you AKON and always will, but just be careful out there, lots of haters are out to get you baby!!!!!!

Posted at 3:41PM on Jun 25th 2007 by adrienne

174. Whatever!!! Akon does not sing teenie bopper songs so why would a child be there in the first place, A child should not be in an adult atmosphere in the first place, and I saw the video, It may or may not have been a mistake but the under age girl being there was especially with adult supervision.

Posted at 5:02PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Katrina

175. I am from Trinidad and I must say that this is not the first time something like this has happen. I am not saying that what Akon did was right, Ms Thing and her family must take responsibly also. How on this green earth you allow your 14 year old to leave home for such a long period to go get ice cream, that is some bs. Ms Thing has been around the block doing stuff that would raise a lot of red flags, did her parents check on their daughter, no. There are pictures of there little daughter in the bathroom ect. Akon I hope this is a lesson well learnt. Keep your head up.

Posted at 4:17PM on Jul 2nd 2007 by Trinibone

176. The show was suppose to be for 18 year-olds and older. He didn't know minors could even get in so he assumed she was over 18.

Posted at 3:11PM on Jul 5th 2007 by Marlon

177. THE GIRL DOESNT EVEN LOOK 15, SHE LOOKS 25, SO WTF...EVERYONE NEEDS TO CHILL

Posted at 2:07PM on Jul 6th 2007 by VER NIKA

178. bloody prudes. you guys must not have ever been to a Caribbean American party or to a really wild party thrown by anyone from the islands (west indies). Sexual simulation is the norm, in fact if you guys ever went to a basement party in Brooklyn you'd probably think an orgy was going on (but it isn't ...well most times ;) Anyway...the video and pics clearly show 1) the girl may be 15 but she sure didn't look it! 2) Begs the question: What is such a young girl doing at a party like this???3) Akon didn't ask for "an 18 year old + volunteer", he asked for a willing woman...and this girl stepped up. You can't fault him for it considering that she wasn't dressed or looks anything like 15. 4) It was simulated in fact his act was very similar to what male strippers do to ladies all the time in strip clubs all over prudish america. 5) Akon's only sin is that he can't sing worth a damn and I am tired of hearing that whiny voice of his...other than that this is a NON story. move on folks.

Posted at 9:15PM on Jul 9th 2007 by veracitanical

179. it's not even bad!!

Posted at 3:59AM on Jul 21st 2007 by Cassi

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