US rapper claims Portuguese police arrested him for ‘being gay’
US rapper Mykki Blanco has accused the Portuguese police of homophobia following his arrest at Lisbon airport.
Noisey reports Blanco was in Portugal for a gallery show residency and was arrested earlier this week after getting into a dispute with a police officer.
The New York City rapper initially wrote on Facebook: “I’m being arrested in Portugal for being gay,” followed by several photo uploads of a Portuguese prison.
Blanco said that after waiting a long time for a taxi, he claimed the police officer and taxi attendant refused to help him after being told he could not use his card for payment.
A Portuguese woman allegedly whispered in his ear: “I don’t know why they are being so strange with you, there is a place inside to buy taxi vouchers. You don’t need cash.”
Blanco said: “I asked the police officer where the voucher office was and I was told to ‘go away’ like I was a nuisance.
“I was yelled at and told to ‘go away bicha’ which is a gay slur.”
Blanco was then arrested for saying “fuck you” to the officer.
The rapper received a lot of racist and anti-gay slurs on his Facebook page after sharing his story.
“Please stop writing hate speech,” he said. “Stop threatening to hang me, posting pictures of slaves and leaving gay hate messages on my page.
“I have seen a really disturbing side of this culture tonight.”
Following the events, Blanco has blocked Portugal on social network sites, announcing on Twitter: “y’all don’t have to get off the internet, but you sure gotta get the fuck off my shit!”
y’all don’t have to get off the internet, but you sure gotta get the fuck off my shit! PEACE NIGGA! pic.twitter.com/yIfXWrCYUV
— Mykki Blanco (@MykkiBlanco) May 21, 2014
The Portuguese police have so far refused to comment about the incident.
Last year, Mykki Blanco accused Britney Spears of exploiting her gay fans.
