Rapper Rick Ross Involved in Violent Incident at Vancouver Festival
ICARO Media Group
American rapper Rick Ross found himself amidst a violent altercation after his performance at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver on Sunday night, according to event organizers. A video posted on social media captured the rapper engaged in a heated exchange with another individual, which quickly escalated into a brawl outside B.C. Place Stadium.
The incident unfolded as Ross, 48, headlined the festival held at the Plaza of Nations near the stadium in downtown Vancouver. In the video, Ross can be seen in the midst of a crowd trading words with another man, who proceeds to throw a punch at him, resulting in a chaotic melee. Lindsay Sparrow, the CFO of Canadian Events Agency, the organizers of the event, revealed that she was backstage at the time of the altercation.
Sparrow described the altercation as a "short altercation" that was promptly resolved by the event's security personnel. She noted that the incident occurred after Ross closed his set by playing Kendrick Lamar's diss track, "Not Like Us," which targets Toronto rapper Drake. "Security did a great job, and everyone exited safely, which is always our primary concern for everyone attending the festivals," Sparrow assured.
Despite the brawl, no serious injuries or criminal charges have been reported thus far. The event organizers stated that they had strived to cooperate with law enforcement and had implemented robust security measures, acknowledging the potential volatility of hip-hop performances. Both the B.C. Emergency Health Services and the Vancouver Police Department confirmed that no investigations were initiated in connection to the altercation.
While Ross did not directly address the attack afterward, he bid farewell to Vancouver on Instagram, posting a photo of his branded private jet alongside the caption: "Vancouver it was fun, till next time."
Rick Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, has enjoyed considerable success throughout his near three-decade-long career, frequently topping the charts. The ongoing feud between Ross and Drake has garnered significant attention, as the two rappers engaged in a war of words with diss tracks. Drake's song "Push Ups" took aim not only at Kendrick Lamar but also targeted other artists such as Ross, Future, Metro Boomin, and The Weeknd. In response, Ross released a track titled "Champagne Moments," where he accuses Drake of getting a nose job. Lamar's release of "Not Like Us" on May 4th quickly reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
As this incident at the Ignite Music Festival has unfolded, fans and the music industry alike are left hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing tensions between Ross, Drake, and Lamar.