Rapper Nelly Arrested For Rape on Florida Georgia Line Tour
This story has been updated (see below).
Rapper and hip-hop artist Nelly was arrested Saturday morning (10-7) in Auburn, Washington after he was accused of sexual assault by a local woman while on tour with country duo Florida Georgia Line. Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was arrested on his tour bus in a Wal-Mart parking lot where the alleged rape occurred. Auburn is a suburb of the Seattle area where the rapper performed at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn Friday night with Florida Georgia Line as part of their current “Smooth Tour.”
According to Auburn police spokesman Commander Steve Stocker, the woman called 911 and reported the rape at 3:48 a.m. early Saturday. After an investigation, police decided to charge Nelly, and eventually took him into custody on 2nd degree rape charges.
According to Nelly’s attorney Scott Rosenblum, the accusation is a complete fabrication. “Our initial investigation clearly establishes this allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness,” Rosenblum said in a statement. “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 was scheduled to perform with Florida Georgia Line Saturday evening in Ridgefield, Washington, just north of Portland at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater. Along with his own hits such as “My Place” and “Over and Over,” Nelly has collaborated with numerous country artists, most notably when he appeared on a remix of Florida Georgia Line’s mega hit “Cruise,” which helped make the song the longest-charting single in country music history at the time. Nelly also collaborated with Tim McGraw on the song “Over and Over” in 2004.
Nelly’s manager also announced in April of 2015 that the rapper would be releasing a country music EP called Heartland at some point, though no date has been set for the project. Also in April of 2015, Nelly was arrested when his tour bus was pulled over in Putnam County, Tennessee for not having proper tags. Numerous weapons and narcotics were discovered on the bus in a police search. Five “rocks” of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, a gold-plated .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol, a .45-caliber Tarus pistol and a .500-magnum Smith and Wesson were all confiscated. One of the people in Nelly’s posse in possession of one of the guns and was also a convicted felon. Nelly himself was charged with felony possession of narcotics, and booked into jail.
UPDATE 10/7 9:00 CDT: Nelly has been released from police custody, and in a series of tweets has said,
Let me say that I am beyond shocked that I have been targeted with this false allegation. 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.
I also want to thank my fans for their unwavering support. They know me. I assure you I will be vindicated. And I assure you, I will pursue every legal option to address this defaming claim. Thank you. In other words y’all know damm well I ain’t do no dumm S^*t like this..!! Love ..!!!! To be absolutely clear. I have not been charged with a crime therefore no bail was required. I was released , pending further investigation.
Sam Cody
October 7, 2017 @ 12:22 pm
Which one is Nelly?
Ben
October 7, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
You win.
Spade
October 8, 2017 @ 2:01 pm
I thought the same thing don’t know the man
Honky
October 7, 2017 @ 1:29 pm
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaha!
Bradley Olson
October 7, 2017 @ 1:43 pm
The middle one is Nelly.
DimM
October 7, 2017 @ 1:48 pm
The other two guys are also guilty. They rape country music every day.
Chris
October 7, 2017 @ 1:50 pm
Don’t know much about the gangster dude, but FGL is some kind of awful.
I heard them at a pre-race concert at the Daytona 500 last year and was grateful that I had ear protection with me.
Harry
October 7, 2017 @ 1:51 pm
Why did I waste time reading that?
NonProphet
October 7, 2017 @ 2:23 pm
Nelly is the least rapey-looking in that picture.
I miss Stevie Gaines
October 7, 2017 @ 2:51 pm
Wonderful replies today gang, keep it up!
WRS
October 7, 2017 @ 3:01 pm
Is this a new vocal trio?
Jack Williams
October 7, 2017 @ 3:27 pm
Desert Eagle? That’s one great big ol’ pistol. Made by bad ass Hebrews.
Wesley Gray
October 7, 2017 @ 3:39 pm
oh jeeze you guys. it is awful is the rape actually happened….BUT TGHESE COMMENTS ARE STILL GOLD. 😂
Strait Country 81
October 7, 2017 @ 4:05 pm
You can take the Thug out of the ghetto but can’t take the ghetto out of the Thug.
CountryCharm
October 7, 2017 @ 4:21 pm
Casual racism and making fun of rape, pretty much expected from the SC crowd.
Honky
October 7, 2017 @ 4:29 pm
Hahahaha. I love having you around. You’re crazy as an outhouse rat, and I just love you for it.
Trigger
October 7, 2017 @ 4:31 pm
Not seeing any racism but I do agree it’s disappointing to see so many folks make light of such a serious accusation here and other places around the internet.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 7, 2017 @ 9:35 pm
15 min before, there’s a comment saying:
“You can take the thug out of the ghetto, but you can’t take the ghetto out of the thug.”
Which is, of course, nakedly racist.
And RD hasn’t even graced us with his perspective yet.
Honky
October 8, 2017 @ 4:35 am
Uncouth Jester,
What’s racist about it? Please provide an in depth explanation if you have time.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 7:37 am
Please don’t. It has nothing do to with the topic of this article.
Move on, or I am deleting comments. Please and thank you.
John Deaux
October 8, 2017 @ 7:54 am
Please no, don’t ask for all that dribbling nonsense.
CountryCharm
October 7, 2017 @ 9:39 pm
If you don’t find the comment about thugs and ghettos racist then you might want to revisit your position on race.
Trigger
October 7, 2017 @ 11:07 pm
Okay get off my ass. This is supposed to be my day off, I’m on my phone, and didn’t see that comment. Nonetheless, no magic words were spoken so I can’t delete it. Like I said, I’m not happy with the tone of the comments here and many other places, but people have a right to say what they want in an open forum.
Bertox
October 8, 2017 @ 2:52 am
Yeah, they have the right to say “I hate n*ggers and f*ggots” too, but they won’t because they’re too chickenshit.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 7:36 am
No you don’t. Not on this website. It will get your comment deleted.
And I know I used “faggot” in an article a few days ago but it was editorial.
CountryCharm
October 8, 2017 @ 6:01 am
It was right above my comment.
Bertox
October 8, 2017 @ 7:50 am
A dude called another dude “brokeback cowboy” here just a few days ago, and it was not deleted. That’s the same thing, isn’t it?
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 8:07 am
Look, lots of comments have been deleted in he last week, probably more than have been deleted in the last six months previous. Others have been edited. There’s nothing I hate doing more than having to play referee in the comments section with people whining back and forth. I have this website to write about what I’m passionate about. I try to keep this an open forum, and police the things I think are inappropriate. But I am not responsible for the views of commenters, and I don’t have the time or the inclination to micro-manage every single comment.
EVERYONE needs to respect the spirit of these comments sections.
Mike Honcho
October 8, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
Are you assigning me a gender, Bertox? Shameful.
Jack Williams
October 8, 2017 @ 3:15 pm
Don’t quit your day job, Honcho.
RWP
October 8, 2017 @ 7:38 pm
Thank you for not turning this into the snowflakes only comment section Trig.
Adam
October 8, 2017 @ 4:28 am
Country Charm – Read the following excerpt from Trigger’s article:
Also in April of 2015, Nelly was arrested when his tour bus was pulled over in Putnam County, Tennessee for not having proper tags. Numerous weapons and narcotics were discovered on the bus in a police search. Five “rocks” of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, a gold-plated .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol, a .45-caliber Tarus pistol and a .500-magnum Smith and Wesson were all confiscated. One of the people in Nelly’s posse in possession of one of the guns and was also a convicted felon. Nelly himself was charged with felony possession of narcotics, and booked into jail.
Doe this not describe thug behavior, regardless of skin color? Can white people not live in a ghetto? You’re the only one bringing up race. Perhaps you need to revisit your narrow view of race. A modicum of critical thought seems prudent before your accuse people of racism.
Good article Trigger – although I think you missed the mark slightly by not asking why FGL would tour with a guy who’s on record for such behavior. If a classic country artist said something publicly that offended climate evangelists, the Nashville PR machine would advise FGL against a one time appearance with that artist. Yet touring with this guy is acceptable? Of course I know the answer is money, but still not a bad exercise in country music philosophy
CountryCharm
October 8, 2017 @ 6:05 am
Thug and ghetto are rightwing dogwhistles. The …but white people ….nonsense is textbook too.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 8, 2017 @ 3:12 pm
Awwwww, that’s cute.
The issue, of course, is that Nelly was born in Austin to a military family, and grew up in a white, upper middle-class suburb of St. Louis.
I know some of y’all are slow, so I’ll recap:
Nelly has never lived in a ghetto.
No one even mildly familiar with his music or career would ever refer to his aesthetic as “thug.”
So, frankly, it’s really fucking obvious that only one thing would ever drive someone to react to this situation with the maxim “You can take a thug out of the ghetto, but you can’t take the ghetto out of the thug.”
And it’s, fundamentally, deeply fucking embarrassing that anyone would try to defend such a statement.
Honky
October 8, 2017 @ 5:45 pm
Uncouth Jester,
He’s a thug because he looks like a thug, and acts like a thug. I associate most thugs with ghettos, trailer parks or dumpy neighborhoods.
If I and the other folks on here who embrace the English language are anything, we’re culturalists. Some cultures are better than others.
Only race-obsessed clowns would automatically associate words with actual definitions, with one race or another.
Honky
October 8, 2017 @ 8:09 am
Trigger,
Why are you deleting all my comments again? I left 4 comments and you deleted 3. I didn’t break your selectivity applied rules. What gives?
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 8:36 am
Quit your whining. I have deleted scores of comments here, and will delete scores more if need be until folks STAY ON TOPIC.
Whiskey_Pete
October 8, 2017 @ 2:08 am
Yea come on, this is a safe space.
John Deaux
October 7, 2017 @ 5:51 pm
In a Walmart parking lot, can’t get more getto than that .
Marc
October 7, 2017 @ 6:00 pm
Wal Mart?? Is Nelly hustling CD’s for Mikel Night?
Dalton
October 7, 2017 @ 6:15 pm
Underrated comment by far.
NonProphet
October 7, 2017 @ 6:23 pm
Just read that there are no charges yet, and he was released pending further investigation
Trigger
October 7, 2017 @ 7:18 pm
…according to Nelly’s lawyer. The last official word we had from the Auburn police was that he was charged with 2nd degree rape. It does appear Nelly has been released, but that would be pretty standard protocol after a preliminary hearing. They are probably waiting for the forensic evidence from the rape kit and other information before they can formally charge him. 2nd degree rape can be very hard to prove. Since it’s 2nd degree, it means there was no premeditation, and if the woman willingly went with Nelly on the bus, it could boil down to a he said, she said.
It could be weeks or months before this is resolved.
Trigger
October 7, 2017 @ 7:25 pm
I’ve updated the story with new information, BTW.
caremark login
October 7, 2017 @ 7:46 pm
going to wait to judge on this one. why would Nelly need to force it? he’s been fighting em off since the 90s and by all accounts is an upstanding dude. people forget, crazy is gender nonspecific
mattdangerously
October 7, 2017 @ 10:18 pm
Lots of upstanding dudes ride around on tour buses full of hard drugs and weapons.
ShadeGrown
October 8, 2017 @ 7:16 am
Nothing wrong with hard drugs or weapons. Illegal perhaps but not that big of deal in my book. And most of our country heroes from the old days coulda been in that same spot.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 8, 2017 @ 3:15 pm
Seriously, haha.
Johnny and Waylon would never be seen with a gun or hard drugs on their tour buses!!!!
JohnWayneTwitty
October 7, 2017 @ 7:56 pm
Jesus Christ, he’s the living embodiment of a bro country song.
Bo Fiddley
October 7, 2017 @ 10:43 pm
Wow, I didn’t know rape or rape accusations were so funny. I guess when you really think about it though, sexual assault or being falsely accused of it is actually quite hilarious. I’ve always considered it more or less a victimless crime and now I’m finally starting to see just how hysterical it is.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 1:36 am
If it looks like a thug, talks like a thug, posesses hard drugs like a thug, it’s probably…
Sorry, but when you dress like that and get charged with Felonies, what are people supposed to think of you? It’s not racist it’s just pointing out the obvious.
Whiskey_Pete
October 8, 2017 @ 2:18 am
Hold on, let me get my latte and panini at Starbucks first.
Gasp (I’m clutching my pearls)! That’s nakedly racist, casually racist, racially charged, and racially incendiary. I’m so, so distraught.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 6:21 am
Haha
Bo Fiddley
October 8, 2017 @ 8:03 am
Was this supposed to be a reply to me? If so, it’s completely off topic. How does “looking like a thug” make a rape or accusation funny? I don’t understand how those dots get connected.
“It’s not racist it’s just pointing out the obvious.”
Again, that’s so off topic and random to what I said that I’m beginning to think you replied to me on accident.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
Yes it was an accidental reply. Was supposed to be a standalone comment.
Bertox
October 8, 2017 @ 2:44 am
Sexual assault is a victimless crime? Wow. May karma be your future cellmate
GP
October 8, 2017 @ 4:50 am
I think your sarcasm detector is broken.
Bo Fiddley
October 8, 2017 @ 7:31 am
I was being sarcastic….
Bertox
October 8, 2017 @ 7:56 am
My apologies, went right over my head
Bo Fiddley
October 8, 2017 @ 8:03 am
No worries.
Cashless
October 8, 2017 @ 5:37 am
Gosh, maybe there should be stricter rape laws, then rape would never happen.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 6:24 am
Someone really oughta ban Sexual Assault, don’t ya think?
Cashless
October 8, 2017 @ 5:41 am
Or maybe we could just confiscate all the male “weapons”.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 6:23 am
Mandatory Buyback is the politically correct term.
Kent
October 8, 2017 @ 6:10 am
I really find some of these joke tasteless. It’s not funny if he is guilty, nor is it funny if the rape allegation is false. And if it is false, the sad thing is that every time someone gets falsely accused of rape It’s getting more difficult for women to be believed when they report rape.
Undecided
October 8, 2017 @ 6:37 am
It is hard for a woman to get justice for being violated. But famous people also get blamed a lot for this crime.I guess only time will tell.
Seak05
October 8, 2017 @ 6:43 am
Country fans: its stereotypes that everyone else thinks country people/trump voters are racist! Also country fans, this thread.
(In case you were wondering why everyone thinks country is racist).
John Deaux
October 8, 2017 @ 7:43 am
Who’s all these people and why should I care what somebody I don’t know says about anything.
If I went looking into their lives I bet I could find a whole pile of things I don’t like but I don’t because I have a life, unlike the constantly complaining butthurts.
DJ
October 8, 2017 @ 7:57 am
Everyone?
Painting with a broad brush is something “many” do, regardless of their politics or music choice. Words mean things.
Marc
October 8, 2017 @ 8:33 am
And yet if country fan was to say that if the allegations are true than Nelly should be castrated and hanged from a tree they would be seen as racists for wanting to hang him. Which btw should happen to all rapists.
Big Cat
October 8, 2017 @ 7:07 am
Just my take here but I don’t think the jokes are in light of the actual alleged assult; I think they are directed at FLG and this ridiculous party tour to begin with.
……which brings me to share my opinion which is you know where these things happen??? They happen at parties, they happen at times like 3:30am, they happen when drugs and alcohol are involved. I’m not defending Nelly because I don’t know the facts but I do think I know there was a serious party involved. its unfortunate girls (and guys) get themselves into these situations where the line can get so gray…. but getting themselves into those situations is USUALLY by choice; unfortunately that choice is often times highly influenced by alcohol or drugs. And before someone tries to preach at me, the same can be said for the people of power (wealth, fame, etc) getting themselves into these situations where they could be falsely accused.
I feel sorry for everyone involved and hope the truth can be proved but more often than not in these circumstances that is tough to do.
Spade
October 8, 2017 @ 8:17 am
Let’s get back to real country fgl is not country any way shape or form I see something happening to country but there plans won’t work.stick to the roots of country and its meaning .
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 8:34 am
Tired.Of.Seeing.These.Comments.
If you saw this article, it’s because you wanted to. 60% of the things presented to people see in their social media feeds go unseen. Your eyes gravitate to what you want to see, whether you say you want to, or don’t. Folks who say, “You need to stick to the music” or “Stick to the roots of county” need to heed their own advice. There are plenty of other stories on this site for you to read. But surprise, guess which article are overwhelmingly read of the others? Articles like these.
I would say the fact that you have a rapper on a major “country” tour being accused of rape is a massive story in the realm of “Saving Country Music,” and it would be a dereliction of duty to not cover it. You don’t want to read about it? Then don’t. There are plenty of other alternatives on the site.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 8:40 am
Hey look, now no one can leave a comment, because all people want to do is leave comments about people’s comments.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 11:48 am
The comments section is back open.
NO MORE:
1) Comments disrespectful of people’s race, gender, or sexual orientation.
2) Politics or other off-topic subjects
3) Comments about comments, or complaining about the moderation or deleting of comments.
Please and thank you.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 2:01 pm
Then quit writing about gun control and other bullshit topics
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 2:07 pm
This isn’t an article about gun control, and I’ll write about whatever the fuck I want to write about.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 2:13 pm
And I’ll comment on whatever the fuck I want to.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 2:14 pm
You’re pissing a lot of people off lately. Quit being a candy-ass.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 2:19 pm
“You’re pissing a lot of people off lately.”
Good. That’s a sign I’m doing my job right.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 8, 2017 @ 3:17 pm
Do you need a safe space filled with puppies, sweetheart?
You seem triggered.
Ulysses McCaskill
October 8, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
No, no I don’t need a safe space. I just am wondering what all the increasingly political articles as of late are accomplishing as it relates to “saving country music”. I am very grateful to this site and Trigger for exposing me to a host of new artists and music I probably never would have found otherwise. Having said that, the recent topics being covered here are straying a little bit too much.
Not A Chance
October 9, 2017 @ 2:08 pm
1) You don’t have a job. You are not an editor or journalist. You do not have a byline and do not take responsibility for your articles. You’re more akin to the trolls here in your comments section than any real journalist.
2) Nelly is in fact more country than most of the mainstream country landscape these days. He’s not so much ghetto or a thug, and your lowest common denominator readers who think he is should have their comment privileges removed, but your can’t do that because you don’t require registration or any sort of accountability, further skirting your responsibilities as a “journalist”
3) …. This place really has become a joke lately. Get rid of the comments section on your website and you’ll have less stress, which will lead to better articles, and you can get back to pretending you’re a journalist without alt-[pick a side] pissing in your cheerios all the god damned time.
Big Cat
October 8, 2017 @ 5:08 pm
That’s a bullshit reply.
Gun control = relative topic
Alleadged rape on FGL tour = relative topic
Don’t be so self absorbed. Other people have opinions too
Kay Adkins
May 25, 2022 @ 12:01 am
As almost certainly the oldest female reader of SCM, I’d like to thank Trigger and the posters who enjoy genuine conversation about beloved music. That can be so exciting, and most comments are smart and often funny. To those who either really are limited in worldview or who just like to stir things up, I’m glad you are the minority.
Gina
October 8, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
I didn’t read all the comments here, but I will say in all seriousness that I like Nelly, and he’s done great things for the community, especially in St. Louis. I love the song he did with Tim McGraw. I’m also skepticism about the charges on this one and I will reserve judgment until he’s actually proven guilty. I still believe in innocent until proven guilty.
RWP
October 8, 2017 @ 7:47 pm
Harvey Weinstein did great things for his community as well…
Gina
October 8, 2017 @ 8:01 pm
Whatever.
Gina
October 8, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
Skeptical, not skepticism.
Dragin
October 8, 2017 @ 2:34 pm
He is probably more country that Florida Georgia Line!!!
Dennixx
October 8, 2017 @ 3:30 pm
I find it hard to believe that any illegal activity whatsoever has ever occurred on a tour bus in the wee am hours.
John Deaux
October 8, 2017 @ 6:08 pm
Especially one in a Walmart parking lot at 3 something in the morning
nascarfan999
October 8, 2017 @ 4:52 pm
Still more country than Sam Hu….wait, I may have to think about this one for a moment…
Yep, still more country than Sam Hunt.
albert
October 8, 2017 @ 6:07 pm
Gotta say I’m more than a little taken aback by the aggressive nature of the comments and replies here today . Up here in the great white north we keep reading about how divisive its getting in the U.S……..man…this sure illustrates that . And please …I’m not condoning or condemning anyone’s position …just saying .
I couldn’t name a Nelly song at gunpoint ( no pun intended ) . But more to the fact …..I couldn’t care less that he’s singing or touring with an act that doesn’t play country music to start with . Its probably the right fit for both of these acts . At least he isn’t rapping with AJ or George or Cody Johnson .(He isn’t is he ????)…
In any case , the charges are serious and if they are, indeed , true then there IS a victim in this story . And THAT has nothing to do with country music no matter how its defined .
Its Thanksgiving weekend ….and not to get all Pollyanna on everyone …but let’s play nice .
RD
October 8, 2017 @ 6:23 pm
“At least he isn’t rapping with AJ or George or Cody Johnson .(He isn’t is he ????)…”
He did rap with that empty cowboy hat Tug McGrew.
BlackHawgDown
October 8, 2017 @ 6:17 pm
So FGL was the “friend with a pole in the basement” after all.
Beast Amongst Human Sheep
October 9, 2017 @ 5:25 am
Rape ain’t something to joke about. Have some class.
handsomeblackcowboybrady1953
October 17, 2017 @ 6:32 am
Trigger,I have openly gay relatives,and “f***ot” doesn’t set well with me.