Blood Orange's Dev Hynes, Samantha Urbani Allege Assault By Private Security At Lollapalooza
By Jon Graef in News on Aug 2, 2014 4:15PM
[Photo by Jessica Mlinaric]
After wearing an anti-police brutality shirt, and giving an anti-racist speech during his performance at Lollapalooza, Blood Orange's Dev Hynes alleges that he and Samantha Urbani, his girlfriend, were assaulted by private security hired to manage the stage where Hynes was performing.
Samantha & I made this T-shirt which I'm wearing today. The set is dedicated to these names & more. We remember. pic.twitter.com/si4ndgDrK1
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) August 1, 2014Here's how Hynes characterizes the incident on his Twitter page:
I gave a speech on racism and police brutality and then I am jumped by three security guards and my gf is assaulted. @lollapalooza
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) August 2, 2014They grabbed her I asked what they were doing and they grabbed my neck and threw me to the ground, then two others joined in on me
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) August 2, 2014Everyone saw it. We are pressing charges, I can't believe it. I'm so upset. Why is this still happening? I just want to make music
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) August 2, 2014If they're doing this to the musicians playing, then how have they been treating all the attendees throughout the day?
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) August 2, 2014Hynes then thanked fans for support, saying, "We are both very shaken and I am pretty bruised up. But blessed to be alive in this world. Others aren't as lucky."
Urbani echoed those sentiments:
Thanks 4support guys, rly. We're shaken upset sad etc but ok. Just want 2keep working against violence &abuse of power. Speak up &take care.
— samantha urbani (@SamandudeBITCH) August 2, 2014Urbani also connected the alleged incident to Eric Garner's death.
Terrifying thinking about if Dev was attacked like that & had a physical disability- like a heart problem, or ASTHMA #RIPEricGarner
— samantha urbani (@SamandudeBITCH) August 2, 2014ln a now deleted tweet, Urbani wrote, "BTW after talking w lollapalooza ppl we've discovered the guards who assaulted us were NOT lolla staff, but privately hired for that stage."
Lollapalooza, for their part, sent a statement to Pitchfork which read, "Late Friday night, we learned of an incident involving an artist and a security guard on site. Since then, we have been in contact with those involved and the authorities, as we work together to resolve the situation. As always, our top priority is to ensure the safety of everyone at the festival."
Considering Chicago is a city where people who document torture by authorities are then subject to torture themselves by said authorities, this type of incident is enraging, though not surprising.