LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) — Rapper Meek Mill has accused the staff of a Las Vegas luxury hotel with racism after he and his companions were barred from entering the property and threatened with arrest for trespassing.
Mill shared a brief video of the confrontation with hotel staff in a social media post. The video appears to show Mills sitting in a vehicle outside of the hotel while members of the hotel’s security staff informed that he was trespassing and instructed him to leave.
“We are a private property, and this time, with the information we have, we’re refusing to do business with you. We have the right to do that,” one of the hotel staffers says in the video.
The cosmopolitan hotel …. and it’s a few other hotels that be doing this to black entertainers because they don’t want too many blacks on they property! Vegas notorious for this too its not just me!!!! pic.twitter.com/HPySp2nh8h
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 25, 2019
In a subsequent statement, reps from the Cosmopolitan said Mill and his entourage were denied entry due to capacity issues at the Marquee Dayclub.
“At The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the safety and security of our guests is our top priority. The recent situation regarding Meek Mill related to a matter of security, not race, and any reports citing otherwise are false. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive environment, with zero tolerance for discrimination. Under different circumstances, Meek Mill would be welcomed to the resort, but not at the compromise of his personal safety and the safety of our guests.”
*On background: Regarding the reported incident on Saturday, May 25, Marquee Dayclub had reached capacity per Las Vegas Fire Marshall code. Earlier that day, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police had been called onsite to manage a larger than usual venue crowd. Accordingly, when Marquee Dayclub was contacted in advance of Meek Mill’s arrival, security staff clarified that he would not be granted access because of capacity issues, in accordance with both club and resort policy. Upon his arrival, it was reiterated to Meek Mill and his team for a second time that access to the venue was not permitted. Meek Mill refused to depart property and was then informed that any continued attempt would result in trespassing.
“Additional background: Trespassing can result in arrest if any individual is non-compliant as a means to keep the resort safe and secure.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, attorney Joe Tacopina, who represents Mills, said the rapper plans to sue the hotel over its “illegal conduct.”
“The assertion that the Cosmopolitan denied Meek because of capacity concerns at Marquee Dayclub is outright false,” Tacopina told The Times. “In the recorded video, Meek also inquired about getting a meal at one of the hotel’s restaurants, yet their security team continued to deny Meek and said he would be arrested for trespassing regardless of location in the hotel premises.”
