“I’m being arrested in Amsterdam for reacting to a woman racially profiling me”

– Ari Lennox

R&B singer Ari Lennox was reportedly arrested in an Amsterdam airport on Monday, November 27th for allegedly “disturbing public order”. She accused the airline staff of racially profiling and discriminating against her, posting about the incident on Twitter. The Dutch military police at the Schiphol airport stated that Lennox was taken into custody because of her “aggressive behavior” towards an airline official. There is also speculation that Lennox was drunk in public. It was unclear how long Lennox would remain in custody as Dutch police investigated claims of threats made by the singer during the altercation. But Dutch police are currently investigating this incident to properly address the press and public. Lennox is best known for her debut single “Shea Butter Baby”(2019) and is currently signed to Dreamville Records. This isn’t the first time Black artists have faced racial profiling in European countries, regardless of their fame and status.

A similar incident occurred in 2019 when American rapper and record producer A$AP Rocky was arrested in Sweden. He was charged with assault that caused bodily harm in Stockholm, Sweden in early July 2019. This arrest followed a fight that was captured on video, with A$AP stating that he acted in self-defense. His entourage had been followed by a group of men who were harassing them on the street. The video shows A$AP Rocky explaining the situation and clearly stating that his group wanted to avoid conflict with the instigators. They were followed for blocks while still recording, asking the men to leave them alone. After Rocky and his entourage were physically assaulted, the situation escalated causing bodily harm to some of the men.

Despite A$AP’s claims for self-defense, the Swedish prosecutor reviewing the case stated that a crime had been committed on his part. Though there were many witnesses to speak on behalf of A$AP and his entourage, an assault that results in bodily harm in Sweden carries a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case caught the attention of American celebrities such as Kim Kardashian West, Kanye West, Donald Trump, etc. Another aspect to consider is that white-American rapper G-Eazy was arrested in Sweden for possession of drugs and narcotics. He didn’t get nearly the same public backlash, and after this incident, he received a $10,000 fine. He was released a day and a half later after being in Sweden police custody. Could it be that American celebrities of different races visiting foreign countries, face greater consequences because of skin color?