Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, a longtime friend of rapper/mogul Jay-Z, has been arrested for allegedly pepper-spraying crooner R.Kelly at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 29 during the Best of Both Worlds tour.
A press statement, which was released by Kelly’s camp, charges that Smith has been subsequently apprehended and formally charged with misdemeanor assault violations that carry a possible penalty of a year in jail.
Additionally, the singer claims that his bodyguards were also sprayed as they escorted him back to the MSG stage shortly after canceling his performance mid-show amid “security concerns.”
According to the release, Kelly was rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, treated and released.
The cancellation caused a tremendous, irreparable rift between Kelly and Jay-Z, who were touring as the Best of Both Worlds. Jay-Z has continued to tour without his R&B counterpart under the banner of “Jay-Z and Friends,” whereas Kelly has filed a $75 million suit for lost income and related restitution.
In related news, a rumor that R.Kelly sexually assaulted Ashanti’s younger sister, Shia “Shi Shi” Douglas, has been proven false. A phony story was distributed through the internet and other media outlets stating, under the guise of the Associated Press, that Kelly fondled the Murder Inc singer’s sister.
Ashanti called a New York radio station to personally debunk the rumor.