There is no doubt that ASAP deserved a sentence. However, the judge's decision of letting Rakim Mayers return back to his country and stop serving time at the jail; has a severe amount of us thinking and doubting about justice, and equality among the world. It's impressive how someone with fame and power can commit crimes and manipulate the law however they want. Status shouldn't give people the power to control situations like this.
3
There is a lot of ignorance in this comment section. Ignorance that is getting the NYT stamp on them.... maybe, just maybe there's a slight difference in foreign policy procedure between countries that have an actual impact on the US economy, and Sweden... You know, because Sweden is not a global power like Saudi Arabia. Sweden doesn't provide hundreds of billions of dollars to the US like Saudi Arabia does. You can criticize his reasoning all you want, but to just say that you're sad that he treated Sweden differently than he treated Saudi Arabia is ignorant.
1
@Jay
You are saying that it is ok that Trump did nothing when the Saudis killed a US resident journalist for criticising the Saudi government because there is money flowing back and forth between the US and Saudi Arabia AND it is ok for Trump to try to try to intervene in another country’s judicial system and threaten that country to bring about the release of a man who assaulted a person because Sweden doesn’t give the US very much in monetary terms. You make me want to weep for humanity.
5
How pathetic that the “useful idiot” Trump feels the need to involve himself in this matter, obviously because he believes that humoring Kanye will win him support in the black community. (Does anyone think he is truly concerned about ASAP Rocky?). Are there any other international matters that perhaps he should be concerned about??
6
I saw an article that claimed Kardashian is one of the most influential women in the world. My jaw hit the floor. You're kidding! Are people stupid?
1
Well, as stupid as this whole episode is, there IS one positive outcome: if Secretary of State Mike Pompeo resigns (or is fired), Kim Kardashian can replace him.
2
Why is the Times intentionally misspelling his name? It's "A$AP," not "ASAP." Is there a new policy to change the stage names of artists of color to something more palatable to white readers? Can we expect to read stories about "Two Chains" or "Pusher Tee" next?
This is particularly egregious given that the Times respects the spelling of Ke$ha, a white artist, and uses it correctly. (see: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/arts/music/14arts-KEHAENDSSUSA_BRF.html)
1
@Tab B — yes, we white people need things to be made more palatable by dropping the “$” sign. Now that it’s been reinstated, I may have trouble sleeping tonight, I’m so upset.
1
Awww come on, there are much more important things to be sensitive about.
3
he should be locked up for his horrible raps
3
This is how dumb we are.
1
In Sweden, when your black, you do the time before conviction. White people do time after conviction.
1
Sweden can do whatever it sees best and most just; I'm more disturbed with the totally inappropriate, questionably legal, totally bizarre, interference of our "President". A special envoy for hostages???
And I always thought that "rule of law" was what made the US special.
3
Seems like a fair outcome.
He got conviction with time served for a minor street brawl, where he and his crew beat up a dude. Years in prison would have been excessive.
3
I think the judges would have done well to sentence closer to the prosecutor’s recommended six-month term. The video footage I saw showed ASAP and associates kicking a guy in the stomach. Testimony included assault with a glass bottle and the body guard picking up one of the guys by the neck, dangling him, then slamming him to the sidewalk. By any objective measure this went beyond self defense. ASAP is no martyr.
DT participating in “producing” several episodes of reality tv show. Double the exposure/ratings for K&K, looking for targeted voting blocs. No floor, no ceiling for this con artist.
1
All that's left now is for the president to award him the medal of freedom.
1
Move over Rosa Parks, Kim Kardashian West is here to teach us what real heroes for justice look like.
1
ASAP and is entorage are lucky. Were it not for international politics, these guys would be spending more deserved time in jail.
It is patently NOT self defense when 3 surround 1 guy, repeatedly kick him in the stomach and smash a beer botton on his skull. Nor is it legit to hold one guy up by his neck and slam him to the concrete.
I'm not sure what the 2 fools who started harassing the musician et al were thinking. Drunk probably. The guys were definitely punching above their weight so to speak. But ASAP and crew were viscous w their own over reaction.
The guilty conviction was correct. The punishment too light.
2
Looks like ASAP Rocky just found the subject matter for his next Grammy winning album. I hate being so cynical but that’s the way it is. Artists go into rehab, or get divorced, or get arrested - then they do an album about it - make millions, and we pay $$$ to listen to it. What happened to the old days when music by Sinatra, the Beatles, heck even The Rolling Stones was about things that everyone could relate to? I’m sick of hearing Nicki Minaj rap about how much money she has or Sean Mendes singing how “He’s lying on the bathroom floor because the walls are caving in”. A family of six in the Midwest trying to put food on the table doesn’t have such “First Class Problems”. This is the problem with the “Kardashian” age we live in.
I would hope that the young man attacked by ASAP and his entourage will take the American way. Get a lawyer and sue him for millions
By agreeing to go to Stockholm, Amb O’Brien has made himself a laughingstock.
1
This is ludicrous! The rule of law in the US is dead. Epstein was able to manipulate the judiciary to hide his crimes, the Supreme Court and the courts are being constituted by white men whose sole task is to protect the wealthy and privileged. But a good look at our history shows that it has been mostly this way. Sad...
Well, once more the rich and famous escape the consequences of their actions: Trump, Epstein, ASAP Rocky--the list goes on.
This is so disgusting.
Its funny how quick people are ready to throw an African American under the bus after Trump helps him. After watching the video, it was clear that the 2 men were harassing ASAP Rocky and trying to cause trouble, yet were free to go for some reason.
2
your introduction is a disgrace. Opening with “it looked liked a small time assault case when there was from the very beginning knowledge of broken glass injuries. you are simply not honest and are attempting to water down the seriousness of the crime committed. i didn’t read any further because i knew you were intentionally mis leading
A thuggish president does all he can to free a rapper who runs afoul of the laws of an advanced, enlightened nation. Stupidity (the security detail claims they didn't know how to call the cops for help), denial (in the face of video tapes), outright falsehoods (the rapper edits the video to tell a misleading version of events), and Trump's hostage negotiator (!) all couldn't sway an independent judiciary.
A lesson for our own courts...
Swedish Fish sanctions are being contemplated by the White House
3
No wonder Julien Assange didn't
want to be extradited to Sweden.
He knew how Sweden justice system
could bend to the political pressure.
Mr. Trump doesn't care about the
niceties of justice.Law is for little
people.
3
I guess you and Trump have that in common then? The belief that Sweden's legal system would bend to political pressure.
I also wonder what basis you have for believing that?
6
Rakim Mayers has a long and uninterrupted history of involvement in violence and drugs, admittedly likely a product of his childhood. This won't be the last time. All the resources squandered to pander to Ms. Kardashian West, et al, could have been so much more beneficial if applied to the basic needs of those still trapped in the life circumstances from which he came. The shameful priorities of this so-called first world nation are a self-destructive tragedy.
9
Sweden should never have let him leave the country, he should have been made to remain and face the consequences of his actions. If it wasn’t for trump getting involved at the behest of kim and kanye, this would have been a non-story. Instead, a group of “entertainers” had to jump in and save a man that committed a criminal offence. What lessons are we teaching our children? That money, power, and fame will protect you from justice being served while the average person is burdened by having to obey laws? I suppose that is the reality that we live in, money doesn’t buy happiness, but it can keep you out of jail.
72
@Canewielder It was headlining and trending on Twitter long before Trump got involved, but whatever you have to tell yourself in order to make you feel better. If you need to find your Trump is bad moment for the day in order to have a good day, oh well....
5
@Canewielder always want to throw the book at a celebrity of color...while "other" people of wealth, power, celebrity get away with murder...drug abuse...sexual abuse, and crimes in political office. A little less attention on a rapper and more attention on all of these "other" people thank you very much.
5
@Jay
Oh please, Trump gets involved in everything because we have to listen to his voice 24 hours a day. Let him put energy into obtaining the release of journalist s but he wont because he is afraid of accurate news .
No one has to go looking for a negative Trump moment because he is everywhere, who else would o a thumbs up at the hospital last week holding a baby whose parents were slaughtered. Only Trump I dont think Putin would stoop so low, but he might.
12
It's important to remember that even though this feels like inane celebrity drama, an interesting interaction between politics, the law and public perception occurred in Sweden. Regardless of what you think of the president, there is a lesson to be learned in how 3 different sectors can perceive an issue uniquely. Hopefully readers don't write this off as mindless entertainment. An American citizen was arrested in a foreign country, and the American government reached out to "rescue" that citizen. That citizen's occupation shouldn't affect our diligence on how the government chooses to exercise their power.
17
@Dennis
I would suggest that an American citizen committed a crime in a foreign country, and there was no need for the USA to intervene, especially at the Presidential level.
To have the President try to subvert the judicial process shows all you need to know about Trump's view of justice, and the importance of an independent judiciary.
The crime occurred in Sweden, the American citizen was hardly going to be treated illegally or poorly. There should have been no comments or actions on the part of the American government.
159
@Dennis when one travels or lives abroad, one is subject to the customs, rules, and laws of the host country. Given the crime in question, the in ambiguous video evidence, and the known reputation of the Swedish judiciary it was simply absurd and grandstanding of the US to have intervened politically in any way. His rights were not being violated and due process was being given. As a US citizen who lives and travels extensively abroad, I of course want my government to look out for me if an injustice we’re being committed against me but in a country like Sweden with a fair and independent judiciary I’d be expected to own and take on the consequences of my own action. To quote the president, it’s SAD, that we’ve come to this.
58
@Dennis Being American does not mean being above the rule of law of the nation visited.
45
"In a letter to Swedish officials during the trial, Mr. O’Brien warned of “negative consequences” for American-Swedish relations if Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was not released."
This letter is what causes negative consequences for American-Swedish relations. In fact it damaged any relations the US has with countries that respect the rule of law.
61
@Hans
I agree. This letter was disgraceful. Whatever you think of ASAP Rocky or this case, he was subject to ample due process in a country with a rule of law. We are the US and should praise countries that follow the same ideals we hold sacred; we are not North Korea or Russia. (I can say this even though I personally do not think ASAP Rocky was guilty)
6
So other countries are expected to treat our violent criminals with kid gloves, but we continue to have immigration agents saying things like "I don't know if there is a criminal element" when talking about a 3 year old child snatched from their family.
9
Washington Post journalist was tortured and murdered, we do nothing but be in love with the Saudis. Journalist are languishing in prisons all across the world and we do nothing. Don't give me this behind the scenes negotiating. Trump who has hatred towards the truth has done nothing to obtain the release of individuals who are doing the hard work of investigative journalism that his support base wont ever read. The supporters of Trump dont even care that they can get slaughtered going to Wal Mart, because they are so focused on being loyal soldiers in the war against democratic values.
Hollywood knocks on the door of the White House and this president once again trying to get votes to show that he is doing something abuses Sweden to get his way. We once again appear to be nothing more than bullies.
So for the rest of these journalist who are missing get Kim to represent you at the white house, otherwise you have been forgotten because the minions working in the administration dont care and wont do anything.
My heart breaks every day for the missing journalist who are doing the hard work that we so appreciate.
Energize , get out the vote, there has to be a better way for all of us who care about democracy and the lives of everyone. Hollywood cant and wont help everyone who needs assistance in the world of dictators and torturers.
8
Wow! Foreign policy run out of Calabasas by Kim Kardashian. We really have fallen down the rabbit hole. Perhaps our new de facto Secretary of State could turn her attention to some of the more pressing matters of substance we face in our incoherent, tweet-driven foreign affairs.
8
This is just another vignette of popular and populist American social and political culture . Replete with the arrogant notion that the Swedish legal system “ doesn’t know what it is doing “, the American President reportedly seeks to influence the outcome of a perfectly reasonable and justified prosecution . Excess and the vulgar trappings of wealth cling to the edges of the narrative . Seriously , what has you nation become ?
7
The "law," for Trump, is a tool to shield yourself and your friends and to punish your enemies.
I do hope our system works and, after an open trial or trials, Trump ends up where he belongs, sweeping corridors in a federal prison.
6
Our long national nightmare is over.
Congrats to the Swedes for their level headed handling of this case and not caving in to US meddling. Shame on Kardashian and other corny celebs for teaming up with Trump.
6
Anyone actually watch the videos? Thought so.
Gripped the music world?? The world really never heard of this dude. Who cares? His publicity agent should ask for a raise.
1
He's the ideal client for Alan Dershowitz who only seeks justice for people who are rich, powerful, famous, and connected.
2
I hope Sweden forbids reentry of this fool to Sweden. They should also shun the hostage negotiator who probably had no effect other than having a great foreign vacation at taxpayer's expense while not going after a strongman dictator who ordered the dismemberment of an American journalist. The cWHr has all Its priorities in the wrong place.
7
several commentators refers to ASAP Rocky as a "celebrity" (in quotes) or a "so called artist". I suspect they do not know his music. Listen to him and watch the video of Kids Turned Out Fine. Among the young generation (my son's) he has a huge fan base. I find him much more talented than other rappers and actually enjoy his songs. He has had several problems of assault in the past so there is certainly a violent temper and an history of violence often associated with rapper's life background (His brother was shot at age 20 in Harlem when he was 13). He is a witness and artist of his time and am glad he got released - Trump or Kardashian role is just a self serving publicity stunt but when an artist is detained in a foreign country it seems logical to me that the government would get involved.
2
@LT So he's a violent criminal, but a great guy. Sounds like someone I'd like to meet.
Kardashian West undermines her efforts toward criminal justice reform of she's going to use the same clout to help out a celebrity, especially one being tried in one of the fairest judicial systems where prisoners are very well treated.
20
It is within the purview of Sweden to block ASAP Rocky from re-entering the EU or Schengen Cpmmon Visa countries. That could be a bigger penalty for a musician than the fine or a few additional months of incarceration. It will be interesting to see if they do that.
24
@Eric Eitreim
Sweden can only ban him from entering Sweden. Not the whole EU or Schengen.
1
@Frank Larsen
Sweden most certainly can put him on a list that would block him from getting through a port of entry as felon and undesirable.
I'm not a musician or an artist of any sort. If I was involved in anything like this in a foreign country, would the White House have relayed a message of "negative consequences" if I were not released?
It may be time to revise Leona Helmsley's quip; "Only little people do jail time."
54
Good outcome. One of the few cases where a short, sharp prison term will have a deterrent effect.
The Swedes can be mighty tough if bullying is attempted.
23
@nolongeradoc“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”
4
I have no idea who ASAP Rocky is or why this is such a big deal. Ok great that he will serve no more jail time.
Perhaps Ms. Kardashian West could 'help' focus our President on the plight of the immigrant children kidnapped by Trump? Or the securing of our voting infrastructure prior to the upcoming elections?
She could wear a new outfit to visit him in the Oval Office!
69
Why is it great that he won't serve more jail time? He beat a man with a bottle in the street.
2
If you're not sure who he is after reading an article about him, I have some bad news. @Elizabeth
Interesting that a reporter can be dismembered and we hear nothing from individual one but a Kardashian wants a favor and BOOM.
179
@Lulu roche. That's because Reality TV Host is his true calling, that President gig is to hard, to much reading, thinking and caring for others, too many facts and to little lying, not really his thing...
5
The world is falling apart. Conflict everywhere. Our “foreign policy” is a joke, laughed at by the entire world, friend and foe alike. Global meltdown, politically and financially. What does Trump do? He sends a negotiator to Sweden to try to bail out a rapper who can’t control himself in order to please West and Kardashian. If you submitted this script you’d be laughed out of the building. What an embarrassment. INCREDIBLE!!!!.
140
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
At last! A real foreign policy achievement by the Trump administration!
47
Apparently Sweden has a rule of law too. The rapper should be grateful he didn't commit the crime in say, N. Korea, or Venezuela, etc. Otherwise, he would become a long term bargaining chip.
39
@Steve Or perhaps a footnote in a very nice letter from Kim.
Gripped the music world? Not likely.
51
Any moment now Trump will take full credit for this on Twitter.
23
All of us owe a debt of gratitude to the Swedish authorities for brushing aside this outrageous pressure from the White House, grandstanding members of Congress, and famous entertainers and just going about the quotidian processes of the law in this case. They have given my fellow Americans and me a stirring example of what the rule of law and a culture of equal justice looks like. Thank you Sweden.
347
@Cormac
I'm not a fan of the political pressure--or of ASAP Rocky--but there were some concerning elements in this case. Did you follow the story closely? There were videos of the incident that showed Rocky and his friends being harassed and threatened prior to the fight, and politely asking the harassers to leave them alone several times.
Sweden has also been dealing with some very serious issues of institutionalized racism (not unlike the US, I know...), and there was reason to at least be concerned that this case was being handled fairly. I would hope that ANY US citizen in these circumstances would be looked after by US officials--not just famous ones--but I'm not as quick to offer gratitude to Sweden as you are for apparently presuming the guilt of a black man based on sketchy circumstantial evidence.
Didn't you say something about "equal justice"...?
5
@Cormac, What's outrageous is your verifiable sanctimonious political outrage. A famous person was stalked and assaulted. If it was a woman, say Beyonce, and she fought back, your tune would be quite a different sound.
5
It is why I buy Volvo’s.
4
If some people think Sweden rose above the pettiness of Trump just remember there is two parts to every criminal transgression, crime and punishment. Guilty and responsible are certainly two different things here. But the real crime is “presidential” intervention on an insignificant matter versus presidential and governmental atrophy on the entirety of democracy.
30
@JW if he was truly being harassed all he had to do is pick up the phone and call I'm sure they had cell phones and they do have police officers in Sweden. I truly believe but he stopped because he is his so-called Entertainer he would get away with this.
11
@Levi. Whats the number for the police in Sweden? Exactly! you don't know.
Seriously this is how we are spending our taxpayers money? Sending a special envoy over to negotiate his release...what a joke...
97
This sentence sounds too lenient. Rocky and his co-defendants should have spent at least until today incarcerated. The fine sounds way low as well especially in light of their not being taxpayers in Sweden.
16
@Robert
For a simple assault? Remanded in custody, so the punishment includes time served AND a fine. On the severe end of the scale for a 'European' sentence.
Americans seem to love punishments that involve long periods of incarceration. Or death. Sentences of severity that Europeans express disbelief at. And it's not as if it works, either. Despite having, per capita, the largest prison population on the planet, there's still a lot of crime in the US.
19
Most legal commentators here predicted this was a likely outcome. He would be found guilty and sentenced to time already served. Nothing strange about it from a Swedish legal perspective, since the court didn't consider it fully proven that a bottle had been used in the assault. The fine is also around the standard amount in Sweden.
The fact that Trump got involved in this and decided to send his hostage negotiator (!) over here, is what still baffles me the most..
17
@Robert
Besides the time served, and the fine, him and his co-defendants also have to cover the cost of the trail, since they were found guilty, so there will be no costs to the swedish taxpayers (assuming they pay.)
3
One of the many disturbing things about this case is our president using the token support of a celebrity African American in the pitiful hope it will win over black voters. Furthermore, conflating the case of a wealthy celebrity with access to quality legal defense with the systemic racism black men face from law enforcement and the court system in the US is laughable at best. At worst, such conflation adds fuel to the fire of Black Lives Matter naysayers.
72
A problem with this take is assuming that BLM naysayers would not take any outcome as fuel. @Sean M.
@Sean M.
Worked last time. He actually got a fair number of votes from black male voters (maybe 11%). Black women stayed away completely.
I'm so grateful for Trump going hard after the crucial international issues...I wonder what Jamal Khashoggi's widow must be thinking right now.
313
@sarah
Or the Warmbier family.
5
@sarah
I cannot believe how arrogant our president and those celebrities that demanded this spoiled rotten punk are. He goes to another country and does something wrong and expects this country to forgive him because he is fron America? No wonder we are one of the most hated countries. I would like to tell how sorry I am for such arrogance that was shown to your country.
6
@sarah not a US citizen.
1
I hope this dude will be the face of prison reform in the US- let’s hope he shares his experience and shames legislators who clearly don’t care about rehabilitation, only punitive action.
7
As a taxpayer, I resent that we paid for our top hostage negotiator to step in and just monitor this case. We have actual hostages who need our help.
107
@Sarah He was there so that the press could take photos of him so that it would look like Trump was doing something. Just another way to pander to his voters. The "negotiator" probably enjoyed a fine vacation here in Sweden after being photographed turning up for the trail.
39
I say watch the video guys. ASAP recorded his encounter with these men. I honestly feel it was self defense. It shows him walking away from these men, who followed the celebrities entourage for blocks, harassing them along the way. I don’t care that this man is a celebrity. It’s his skin color and the different treatment he received compared to other similarly placed celebrities in Sweden that make this an interesting case.
11
@Randy The video posted on social media was edited to make him look innocent. The police was in possession of the unedited version which was showed at the trail along with plenty of other photos and CCTV footage which tells a very different story.
67
@Randy
"I honestly feel it was self defense."
He's had plenty of lawyers making that plea. Plenty of opportunities to present and argue evidence.
After a proper trial, in a court of law, in first world nation with a mature, legitimate legal system, he's been found guilty of assault.
If he can't accept the verdict of the court, he can, of course appeal it through appropriate channels. Until then, he's GUILTY of assault.
25
@Randy the court just determined their guilt. What YOU ’feel’ is right is irrelevant.
1
The White House had always maintained a policy of respecting the sovereignty of our allies and the judiciary. To wit, despite pleas, The White House did not inject itself in the controversial case against Amanda Knox in Italy.
Donald Trump has attempted to interfere, not only, in the Swedish judiciary but in the UK with efforts to influence the release of Tommy Robinson and the fate of Charlie Gard. He has threatened relations based on the opinions of his base who are often ignorant of the facts.
America is now seen abroad, thanks to Mr Trump, like the playground bully. It will be interesting to see the response when the president wants to engage a unified allied front against one of America's adversaries. That's the thing about friendship, if one abuses it, eventually one finds himself alone.
50
How can you prove “ justice is blind” when everyday you are faced with examples where political influence ( ASAP rocky) and money ( Epstein) have an impact on the outcome.
What lessons are we teaching our kids? Even the highest courts are packed with judges cherry picked by the ruling political party based on their views and affiliations. This is corruption on a very sophisticated scale.
38
@Momof2boyz Stop using a person of color to grip about political influence when we have the single most corrupt government since Hector was a pup. You have all of these corrupt businessmen, politicians and law enforcement (not all of them) that operate under the table, across the table, and in the bedroom and you single out one lone guy of color to make your point. Priceless!
1
@Momof2boyz So much misinformation but I will take a stab at it...
"political influence ( ASAP rocky)"--rather ridiculous and laughable
"What lessons are we teaching our kids? " Are you a Swedish citizen? "Our kids"? Sweden has the rule of law and through a judicial process found Rocky guilty and levied a fine. If that is not "justice" what is?
"Even the highest courts are packed with judges cherry picked by the ruling political party based on their views and affiliations." Do you know anything about how judges in Sweden attain their positions? You should maybe inform yourself before making such grand proclamations.
You do realize this was a case in a sovereign state that was handled according to their laws and governance right?
If you watch the extensive video, you get to witness incompetence at its best. The negligence of his security is compelling to watch. A simple call to the police - they claimed they were foreigners and didn’t know how to call cops (seriously?) - would have resolved episode in 5 minutes. The dude that got beat up deserved a ticket at least, but until adults learn that violence has no place, Kanye and Trump will continue to have to make these pleas for leniency. I’m glad Trump is focused and working hard and not golfing all the time like Obama. What is the golf day count up to anyway?
62
@Billy Bobby Just to be clear, Mr. Trump has played more than twice as much golf as President Obama at this time during his presidency. There’s an entire website dedicated to tracking this comparison.
24
The fact is that Trump has taken far more golf days than Obama ever did, after having explicitly said he would not spend any time on the golf course. Getting involved in this matter is an absurd waste of the President’s time and influence (whatever of that he has left).
34
I'm pretty sure he was kidding about the golf count...
I haven't seen any reaction to the news that the administration threatened "negative consequences' for an ally over some 2-bit rapper's assault case. Completely inappropriate for a president, but perfect for a mob boss.
198
I hate to say anything which might be perceived as being in defense of Trump, after everything he’s done, but my sense is that it’s not actually that uncommon for US diplomats & even presidents to warn of negative consequences as a result of the arrest and possible mistreatment of an American citizens—not only a rich or powerful person, but any American citizen. Usually, however, these protests are in response to arrests without cause...
5
Are US citizens supposed to be immune to the rule of law in other countries? Surely this is pushing the concept of US exceptionalism to a point where it will alienate allies (the ones that are left).
37
@a reader: Right,it was appropriate for the US embassy or consulate to keep an eye on the situation, which they were doing before all the special treatment started.
And who knows, maybe its OK for Kim Kardashian to pick a favorite person and get special treatment for them, I mean, why be a celebrity if you can't pull strings etc?
I suppose the celebrity/court analysts are talking about why Kim got in the act at all, why didn't Kanye ask for the favor directly? But who cares, really?
5
What I wanted to understand is if the Swedish government was either coerced to be more lenient on ASAP Rocky or if the US played an outsized roll in helping this “Celebrity” usurp responsibility. No one not even a celebrity or friend of Kim Kardashian should be above the law. If he committed a crime he should receive a measured punishment that reflects the severity of his actions. If he received a lenient or more sever punishment because who he is we have a problem. Justice should be blind.
27
@Cal Ross
There was no influence on the decision, it's Sweden, they have a judiciary that's independent and competent.
22
@Cal Ross The case has been extensively covered in our media, the evidence was made public, and the sentence cited a lack of evidence of whom, or even if anyone hit the defendant with the glass bottle that was involved. There is an image of Mayers holding the bottle before the fight broke out. There is crushed glass on the street at the moment when the defendant was thrown into the ground. It's not knows if the extensive cuts on the defendants body was caused by being hit by the bottle, or if they came from falling on already broken glass, hence a more lenient sentence. There is nothing that suggests there was any form of political intervention here, which would be illegal and highly inappropriate anyway.
14
@Kristoffer A near perfect example of circumstantial evidence and a near perfect example of corruption. And yet even with overt, admitted and blatant political intervention we get no suggestion of political intervention. True only to the extent of the difference between overt and suggested.
1
Generally speaking, for years many of us looked up to the USA as a highly respected ally. These days not so much. May that change in 2020.
173
@tiny village in the Netherlands
We pay for your defense. But luckily for you, our role as world police is motivated by economic interests, not whether the global subjects of our empire are grateful or not.
4
@asdfj
You got that exactly right--we're only in it for ourselves and for money. All that 'Pax Americana' stuff was a lot of hooey--we stand for no values whatsoever.
Now that the GDP of the EU exceeds ours and China and the Pacific are on the rise--they don't care one iota what we do. I'm glad they see us for what we really are and move ahead without us. Soon we will be just another third rate third world country.
17
@CF imagine cheering for China as some sort of moral authority. Or Europe, whose expansionism and greed caused many of the global issues we are facing today. It will be a frightening world when China is the new superpower. If you think the US was bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet. American narcissism even infects the self hatred of the left.
4
We are in an odd and disturbing moment in history: the reality TV class (who ironically are so often classless) have been so infused into US culture by the entertainment-media complex that their trivial actions and problems are covered fare more broadly than the serious issues of our society.
The Times has resisted this trend, and it is essential it continue to do so to help thinking people retain their sanity.
150
"the reality TV class (who ironically are so often classless)"
...and thoroughly divorced from reality.
66
Sad and scary that Trump and the other celebrities assume because someone is famous they are not guilty. They believe they are above the law in the US and other countries too. The outcry over this and accusations of racism and Trump trying to sway the care illustrates this. A sane country like Sweden does not treat its people so differently and the Prime minister refused to get involved in case. A fair and just and strict legal system is all that made America great and a safer country than others for people to live, buy property, buy stock, use financial systems. After Epstein and other recent events I don’t have much hope us anymore.
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@Allright
I didn't hear any outcries of racism. Most of us in the hiphop community never heard of this person. And didn't really care. I think this was more about Melania and Ivanka having to return to Manhattan's social scene at some point and not wanting to be be considered outcasts. This hullabaloo was right after the "Send her back" business. Trust me, most black people didn't care about this fellow, whoever he is.
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