The past 48 hours have been jam packed with rumors, controversy, and straight up lies about the “brawls” that took place at the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards. At first, off-the-wall tales about shootings and gang fights projected these separate incidents to be much more than what really happened. Here’s what we know to be true at this time.
1. Rick Ross and Jeezy did get into a physical altercation (pushing and shoving) backstage.
“TMZ has obtained the money footage of the infamous Rick Ross and Young Jeezy scuffle backstage at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards. The awards ceremony was taped Saturday (Sept. 29) night in Atlanta, but won’t air till Oct. 9. However, the hip-hop aspect of the show is being marred by the two battles — another fight broke out between Gunplay and members of G-Unit in the parking lot — that took over headlines the following morning. ”
2. Gunplay was fighting 50 Cent’s security, not 50 Cent, and he was in fact pepper sprayed “by a cop.”
“First of all, I ain’t gonna say the donkey’s name (referring to 50 Cent) cause I ain’t gonna ruin a career already ruined,” he started. “So the donkey walks with eight other donkeys, I was gettin ready to catch my ride. Police said I couldn’t leave the traliers…It was either me jump the barrier and run or stand, pull up my pants and knuckle it out with the donkey…So he walks up to me and he nodded to one of the donkeys and one of the donkeys set it off and we rumble. I stood up in the tank like a real G supposed to with five bodyguards that’s trained to kill a human being…I lost my footing, got right back up and then the pepper spray came.” (Watch Gunplay’s interview here)
3. There is footage of both the Gunplay and Rick Ross/Jeezy scuffles.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bzl7RbLXtR0%3Frel%3D0
(Watch more video footage here)
4. Police told TMZ that there were no gunshots fired.
“Shortly after 7:15 pm Saturday, a fight broke out in the parking lot at the Atlanta Civic Center (where the BET Awards were being taped) between two groups,” a spokesperson for the APD told TMZ. “Atlanta Police Department officers on scene responded to break up the fight and used OC spray in the process. Individuals fled the scene. There were no arrests or reports of serious injuries. Reports of shots fired appear to be untrue.” (read more here)
5. BET released a statement about the incident.
“Tonight during a taping of the BET Hip Hop Awards 2012 (not the BET Awards which went down without incident two months ago) an altercation between two rap entourages broke out backstage. Atlanta police and BET security quickly defused the altercation.
According to the Associated Press, police spokesman Carlos Campos said officers responded to the scuffle at around 7:30 p.m. EST Campos says there were no shots fired. ??More drama unfolded as two men were involved in a fistfight in the parking lot of the venue.”
(read more here)