Akon Axed by Verizon Over Simulated Rape

Posted May 4th 2007 3:44PM by TMZ Staff

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

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61. That was just utterly disgusting and demoralizing. How could something like that be put on a stage? proves of his stupidity in coreography.
and yet thousands of teenagers look up to you and listen to your music, what an ass.

Posted at 6:33PM on May 4th 2007 by fmvei

62. When are men going to start treating women like HUMAN BEINGS???

Unfortunately, This is nothing compared to what the men in Iraq are doing to the women.

http://www.freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=51409

not for the weak-stomached.

Posted at 6:34PM on May 4th 2007 by Bella

63. This man (using the term loosely) and artist (joke) also claims to be Muslim....hahahaha Seriously though this isn't funny. Muslims 'real Muslims" would be horrified to be associated with such trash. And for Shonny and Jessica and I am sure many other ignoramuses to think that the way someone dresses, how old she looks or whether she has tatoos or not in any way shape or form excuses or helps us understand why this sorry excuse for a human would act this way...Get a clue, get a brain. And please don't have any children. There enough mindless people out there having kids already. So called "artists" like this and any corporation supporting or promoting their garbage ought to be horsewhipped...and that would be too kind...God help us all when people will actually exuse or try to justify the actions of such a PIG!

Posted at 6:35PM on May 4th 2007 by Gemini545

64. The video with Tara Reid looked like an R-rated version of Night at the Roxbury.

Akon is an ass and should be in trouble for the whole thing. "Win a trip to Africa"? Wow, did he come up with that all by himself? You can't blame the girl for being young and stupid. Akon and his crew set the whole thing up so he could get his jollies abusing some woman from the audience.

He just happened to accidently pick a minor who's daddy is a minister.

Posted at 6:50PM on May 4th 2007 by Enchanter

65. Thank you Verizon for giving him the axe! I wish Gwen Stefani would kick him off her tour too. what a jerk!!!

Posted at 6:51PM on May 4th 2007 by carter

66. no i aint but opinions should be made based on facts and well people are just going at akon he is this and he is that but the fact is the girl snuck in the club and lied about her aged and well he didnt know. everyone wants to point the finger at him when she was wrong from the time she walked in the door. Not to mention he does it at all his shows why do you think this one is so public. because she is 15 but she put herself in the situation he didnt call and say make sure there is a 15 yr old there for me at the 18 and older club. thats what i am saying so make all the opionions you want but at least have some fact to it

Posted at 6:59PM on May 4th 2007 by Shonny

67. Wow!! Shocking...another "rapper" being a pig...and treating women like they are prostitutes...Real nice! I hope Gwen gets smart and dumps him as her opening act! I am so sick of these people...Grow up, and Get some class...better yet, "Better "axe" someone upstairs for some class!

Posted at 7:01PM on May 4th 2007 by Missy

68. Shonny are you really this stupid? Hahahaha...I guess you are honey....

Posted at 7:08PM on May 4th 2007 by Gemini545

69. to shonny , no matter how much you take up for this asswipe get over it. his music still sucks.

Posted at 7:08PM on May 4th 2007 by so what

70. I wonder...if this was a WHITE artist who did that to a 15 year old black girl, would Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson demand punishment??? Well, we won't see them criticizing Akon, that's for sure.

Posted at 7:11PM on May 4th 2007 by Tianna

71. WHAT PIGS !!!!!!!!! BOTH HIM AND HER ...... TRUST ME SHE IS NO INNOCENT VICTIM HERE.......... THAT LITTLE 15 YR. OLD HAS BEEN AROUND A BIT........ CAN TELL ALOT BY JUST LOOKING AT HER.......... HER PREACHER POPPA BETTER GET A GRIP ON THAT ONE , IF IT'S NOT ALREADY TOOOO LATE .....STILL HE SHOULD'VE BEEN ARRESTED ON THE SPOT............... GOOD FOR VERIZON AND I HOPE HE LOSES HIS CONCERT GIG TOO

Posted at 7:18PM on May 4th 2007 by themomma

72. Is her dad a preacher or her pimp? Who let's their 14 yr old go out dressed like that to an Akon concert in an 18+ club? A very bad parent -- one who is looking for $$$.

Posted at 7:22PM on May 4th 2007 by moi here

73. Laura Ingraham said that this girl was badly bruised, and I can see why. But knowing as many Trinidadians as I do, their women act worse than that - they call it being "worthless."

Tara looks like a fool riding around on this animal. Black men have destroyed the image of black women, now they are working on the white ones. White men will not protect their families anymore because they are terrified of being called a racist. So everybody has to suffer because no one will stop these low-lifes from hurting women.

And you say you like his 'music.' How much will you sacrifice for him?

Posted at 7:46PM on May 4th 2007 by candleinthe wind

74. I just was at a concert of Akon's in Tulsa, and he did the exact same thing. The whole "Trip to Africa" Contest. I thought the girl he picked was going to get hurt on stage, no telling how old she was..

Posted at 8:37PM on May 4th 2007 by AkonConcertGoer

75. The video shows the end of the "competition" with like 7 girls, right? The still photos of her "riding" Akon before he did this will be called into question by his lawyers. She danced VERY SEXUALLY and her attire was sexy as hell. She does not look her age.

Akon's dancing definitely could have bruised the girl, no doubt about that. He was just trying to be outlandish on stage to hype the crowd. Was his flopping her around a bit much? HELL YES!!!! It was flippin' crazy!! But, she was very erotic with Akon BEFORE the simulated sex dancing and he was definitely hype off her sexual nature.

TMZ should get in trouble for saying Akon simulated rape and he should turn around and sue TMZ who know he was simulating sex (though rough sex). TMZ is smart enough to know that he was simulating sex with her, not rape. NO ONE KNEW HER AGE!! She got herself in a lot of trouble and now they think this lawsuit will paint her in a different light. Um...NOOOOOTT!!

Would I get up on stage with a singer. HELL NO!! They simulate sex all the flippin' time. I just saw a shot of a dancer bent over in front of Ricky Martin. It's like "Enter at your own risk" or something.

I think Akon went a tad overboard, but he is not the only one to dance like that with a female fan. I think the girl is wrong as well. She knew she was not supposed to be there and went up there and grinded all up on Akon to win the dance contest. She knew well that Akon is too old for her to even think about dancing with him in that way, yet she went up on that stage.

THEY ARE BOTH AT FAULT!!! Should he go to jail for some grown looking girl who we can all say had a lot of fun is now popular at school over this with a big cheese grin, HECK NO! Should he change his show somewhat? YES!!

Posted at 8:38PM on May 4th 2007 by Sasha

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