Rapper Nelly accused of rape on tour bus in Washington
SEATTLE — Police arrested rapper Nelly early Saturday after a woman said he raped her on his tour bus in a town outside Seattle, an accusation the Grammy winner’s attorney staunchly denied.
Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was arrested about 4:37 a.m. Saturday in his tour bus, Auburn police spokesman Commander Steve Stocker said.
The woman called 911 to report being sexually assaulted by Nelly on the tour bus, police said in a statement.
Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, said Saturday afternoon that the singer was released from jail pending the investigation.
He was scheduled to perform in Ridgefield, Wash., on Saturday night. He’s on tour with Florida Georgia Line.
Rosenblum called the rape claim a “completely fabricated allegation.”
“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,” Rosenblum said in an email.
Nelly was arrested in Tennessee in 2015 on felony drug possession charges after a trooper smelled marijuana on his bus. Nelly later pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor drug charges: possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, the district attorney said. Nelly agreed to a pretrial diversion, which means his record was later cleared, Rosenblum said.
Nelly is a three-time Grammy winner.