Rapper faces charges after fan is injured

Rapper faces charges
after fan is injured

FISHKILL, N.Y. — Akon faces criminal charges after a fan said she suffered a concussion when the hip-hop star tossed a teenager off the stage and onto her in the concert crowd, police said Thursday. Akon is scheduled to appear in Fishkill Town Court on Monday morning for arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor, and second-degree harassment, a violation, according to a news release from Police Chief Donald Williams.

Audience members said that a spectator lobbed something at Akon and that the singer asked the crowd to point out the culprit. A security guard picked out a 15-year-old and sent him up to the stage, where Akon hoisted him onto his shoulders and flung him into the crowd. The boy landed on Abby Rosa, who told the Poughkeepsie Journal she was later found to have a concussion.

She said she has hired a lawyer and spoken to Fishkill police. The singer’s Manhattan lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, released a statement a few days after the June 3 concert at Dutchess Stadium saying there was no basis for criminal charges.

In April, Akon drew criticism for having on-stage simulated sex with a 14-year-old girl at a concert in Trinidad. He later apologized, saying he didn’t realize the girl was underage.

The incident led Verizon to withdraw its sponsorship of Akon’s tour with Gwen Stefani, with whom he performs on the hit song “The Sweet Escape.”

Akon’s latest album, “Konvicted,” has sold more than 1 million copies in the United States.

His hits include “Don’t Matter,” “I Wanna Love You” with Snoop Dogg and “Smack That” with Eminem. He won favorite male soul/rhythm & blues artist at the American Music Awards this month.

Another award
for Jodie Foster

LOS ANGELES — Jodie Foster needs to make more room on her trophy shelf. The 45-year-old star will add the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award to her collection of Oscars, Golden Globes and other awards. Lansing, former chief of Paramount Pictures, will present Foster with the award Tuesday at The Hollywood Reporter’s 16th annual Women in Entertainment breakfast.

The actress-director-producer “has consistently maintained a sensibility and quality that is not easily sustained in this industry,” publisher John Kilcullen said Thursday. “She clearly embodies the qualities of excellence and achievement that this award was created to honor.”

Previous recipients include Barbara Walters and Meryl Streep. Foster’s film credits include “Taxi Driver,” “The Accused,” “The Silence of the Lambs” and this year’s “The Brave One.”

Today’s birthdays

Character actor Bill Erwin is 93. Former Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig is 83. Actress Julie Harris is 82. Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III is 76. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is 68. Actress Cathy Lee Crosby is 63. Movie director Penelope Spheeris is 62. Country singer John Wesley Ryles is 57. Actor Keith Szarabajka is 55. Actor Dan Butler is 53. Broadcast journalist Stone Phillips is 53. Actor Dennis Christopher is 52. Actor Steven Bauer is 51. Country singer Joe Henry is 47. Rock musician Rick Savage (Def Leppard) is 47. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Tracy Austin is 45. Rock musician Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) is 39. Actress Rena Sofer is 39. Rock singer Jimi HaHa (Jimmie’s Chicken Shack) is 39. Actress Lucy Liu is 39. Rapper Treach (Naughty By Nature) is 37. Tennis player Monica Seles is 34. Singer Nelly Furtado is 29. Pop singer Britney Spears is 26. Actresses Daniella and Deanna Canterman are 15.