MEMPHIS, Tenn- A rapper who was given a key to the City of Memphis by Mayor A C Wharton was arrested.
Rick Ross was charged with kidnapping and assault charges in Georgia.
It’s the second time he has been arrested this month.
A few weeks ago he was arrested for possession of marijuana.
There’s a lot of debate over the rapper being honored with a key to the city.
Some people said rapper Rick Ross didn’t deserve the key to the city in the first place and they want the mayor to take it back.
People we spoke with in Memphis said they don’t understand why rapper Rick Ross still has the keys to the city when he’s constantly in trouble with the law.
“I just think that he does not deserve the key to the city because that is just totally wrong. I don’t think he deserves the key to the city,” said Dazeine Williams who lives in the area.
The rapper performed at Memphis Madness last year and his lyrics caused quite a stir.
He put out a song about date rape before he performed in Memphis, then later apologized.
Some were upset because the University of Memphis allowed him to perform.
Betty Owens said the rapper’s latest arrests on top of his lyrics sends the wrong message about her city.
“If you want to have a public figure, it needs to be someone that represents good things,” she stated.
WREG asked Council member Berlin Boyd if the rapper still deserves the key to the city.
“Just hoping that once the court law decides whether or not he’s innocent or guilty, then I think it’s more definite time to have a discussion about whether or not he should be revoked of that privilege,” he stated.
Boyd said it’s also important to remember the positive things the rapper is known for in the area such as the restaurants he owns.
“He has made a very big investment. He’s employing local citizens, so I’m looking beyond that because he didn’t have to come to Memphis to open up several stores like he has,” he explained.
Others said whether he made an investment or not, he’s giving a city that’s already known for crime a bad name.
The man described as the rapper’s bodyguard was also arrested.
WREG reached out to the mayor’s office about this.
They released the following statement:
“The key was presented to Mr. Ross as a token of appreciation at the grand opening of one of his three businesses in the Memphis area. I was joined at the ribbon cutting by the Memphis Chamber, as is customary, to highlight a business owners investment in Memphis and the new jobs created. The things Mr. Ross’ is accused of are deplorable. He will be judged by the criminal justice system and eventually, he, like each of us, will be judged by a higher power.”
