FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Rapper Lil Tjay had a lot to say as he exited the Broward Main Jail on Tuesday, one day after a disorderly conduct arrest outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It’s the same casino in which fellow rapper Offset was shot the same night.
The 24-year-old Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, has not been charged in the shooting and denies any involvement, which happened outside of the building’s valet area.
Lil Tjay denied any fight between him and the 34-year-old Offset, whose real name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus.
“I don’t do no damn fightin‘,” Lil Tjay told media outlets as he walked out of the Fort Lauderdale jail.
He gave an expletive-laden account of what he said happened.
“‘That n---- shot me.’ ‘That n---- shot me.’ ‘That n---- is a rat.’ ‘Cap n----,’” Lil Tjay said. “Weirdos. Y’all gettin’ a good a-- interview.”
According to an arrest report by Seminole tribal police, Lil Tjay, of the Bronx, New York, “directed members of his party to start a fight” with Offset and his group.
The report states that Lil Tjay exited a vehicle, pointed at Offset, and his group began fighting with Offset. Lil Tjay, police said, “had his phone out, recording members of his group” attacking Offset.
At some point, police said “one of the males associated with (Lil Tjay) pulled a firearm and discharged it, wounding one of the individuals.”
Two people were taken into custody.
Offset boasts a whopping 23.8 million followers on social media with more than 17 million Spotify listeners monthly. He was married to well known rap artist Cardi B.
A representative for Offset confirmed he is in stable condition and is being closely monitored at a hospital.
“Did he put his hands on you?” Local 10 News reporter Bridgette Matter asked Lil Tjay, referring to Offset.
“Hell naw,“ Lil Tjay replied. ”How many times I gotta tell you that ain’t nobody touch me?”
Local 10 News has requested Lil Tjay’s arrest report and has asked more questions of Offset’s representative.
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