Nelly Rape Charges Have Been Dropped
UPDATE #2: More than two months after Nelly was taken in by authorities in Washington state, the rape charges against Nelly have been dropped. As of the second week of December, The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against Cornell Haynes, Jr. According to E!, the action came after Nelly’s accuser declined to assist prosecutors in the investigation.
UPDATE: Less than one day after Nelly was released from authorities in Auburn, Washington, the Rap superstar has broken his silence. Contrary to what numerous publications reported Saturday, the rapper/actor said that he was not charged with rape of any kind. He stated that he was released, without a bail requirement.
Furthermore, Nelly asserts his innocence and vows to seek justice against his accuser for defamation. “I am completely innocent. I am confident that once the facts are looked at , it will be very clear that I am the victim of a false allegation…I do want to apologize to my loved ones for the embarrassment and for putting myself in a situation where I could be victimized by this false and defaming allegation,” the MC tweeted.
OCTOBER 7 REPORT: For nearly 20 years, Nelly has reigned as one of Rap music’s most commercially successful artists. He put St. Louis, Missouri on the map at the largest level to date, and has the rare distinction of a diamond-certified Hip-Hop album, in 2000’s Country Grammar. Aside from a verbal conflict with KRS-One, Nelly’s meteoric rise was one mostly free of controversy or negativity.
In the 2010s, that has not been the case. This morning (October 7), Nelly (born Cornell Haynes, Jr.) was arrested outside of Seattle, in Auburn, Washington. The longtime Universal Republic Records artist is charged with second-degree rape, following a tour bus incident in the last 24 hours. A woman who Nelly met in Seattle following a concert stop contacted law enforcement early this morning, accusing the rapper/actor of raping her on his tour bus minutes before.
Rolling Stone reports that Nelly was released just moments ago from SCORE Jail in Des Moines, Washington.
“Nelly is the victim of a completely fabricated allegation,” attorney Scott Rosenblum said to The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “Our initial investigation clearly establishes this allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness. I am confident, once this scurrilous accusation is thoroughly investigated, there will be no charges. Nelly is prepared to address and pursue all legal avenues to redress any damage caused by this clearly false allegation.”
Nelly is currently on the Smooth Stadium Tour with Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line. All acts performed at the White River Amphitheatre last night, ahead of the alleged sexual misconduct. The bus was resting in a Wal-Mart parking lot at the time of the incident.
In 2015, Nelly was in trouble related to another tour bus incident. Tennessee law enforcement officials discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, over 100 bags and numerous handguns during a traffic stop and subsequent search. The rapper was charged with felony possession of drugs, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, before being released on bail. Last year, Nelly was reportedly in arrears of more than $2 million in taxes. Nelly last released seventh album M.O. in 2013.
Last month, another very popular Y2K rapper, Mystikal, was indicted for rape and kidnapping. The onetime No Limit and Jive Records star turned himself in earlier this year.