YouTube star and social influencer Jake Paul has been charged by police in Scottsdale, Arizona, after allegedly participating in looting of Scottsdale Fashion Square mall and riots.
He has been charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly.
The 23-year-old was identified as being present at riots and looting in the shopping mall, according to police.
The online personality reportedly unlawfully entered and stayed inside the shopping centre when it was closed.
According to ABC15, local officials say that Jake “was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and the rioters were ordered to leave the area by police”.
Jake Paul has been charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly (Image: Instagram)
A number of videos circulated online which appeared to show Jake present at the mall looting and riots.
However he took to Twitter in an attempt to clear things up.
He said: “To be absolutely clear, neither I nor anyone in our group was engaged in any looting or vandalism.
“For context, we spent the day doing our part to peacefully protest one of the most horrific injustices our country has ever seen, which led to us being tear-gassed for filming the events and brutality that were unfolding in Arizona.”
Jake has denied being part of the looting or doing anything unlawful (Image: Getty Images)
The protests come following the death of George Floyd, who died after a policeman knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Jake continued: “We were gassed and forced to keep moving on foot.
“We filmed everything we saw in an effort to share our experience and bring more attention to the anger felt in every neighbourhood we travelled through; we were strictly documenting, not engaging.
Jake Paul is best known for being a personality on YouTube (Image: Instagram)
“I do not condone violence, looting, or breaking the law; however, I understand the anger and frustration that led to the destruction we witnessed and while it’s not the answer, it’s important that people see it and collectively figure out how to move forward in a healthy way.
“We are all doing the best we can to be helpful and raise awareness; this is not the time to attack each other, it’s time to join together and evolve.”
Fellow YouTubers hit out at Jake though, with Elijah Daniel alleging: “You are on camera with a bottle of vodka looted from a PF Chang’s.”
The protests and riots came following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police
Meanwhile Daniel Preda said: “You’re completely full of s***. Grow the f*** up, sit your a** at home, donate, educate, read and do some actual good instead of this clownery.”
Jake shared a petition for the “Justice for George Floyd” page before the incident which he has been charged in relation to.
All four police officers involved in George Floyd’s death have now been charged, after being fired already.
Derek Chauvin, who has his knee on George’s neck, has had his charge upped from third-degree to second-degree murder.
The other three officers, who had previously faced no charges, are now facing counts of aiding and abetting murder.
The harrowing incident, which was filmed and circulated on social media, has sparked protests across the UK and rest of the world against racism and police brutality towards Black Americans.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
