Labeling Tyler, The Creator’s SXSW Incident As A Riot Is Inaccurate, Says Attorney

At last week's SXSW festival, Tyler was arrested at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in connection with a riot after his SXSW show on March 15 when he implored fans left outside the venue to break down the barriers. Tyler was released from an Austin jail soon after on a $25,000 bond  and released a statement on Twitter about his incident and the horrific catastrophe that happened the day before where a drunk driver took three lives and injured 22 people.

Tyler's lawyer, Perry Q. Minton, spoke to the the Associated Press about the riot charges claiming them as misguided. Minton syas that Tyler is not a violent person and would never intentionally condone such activities and put people at risk. Minton shared a statement shared with the AP.

At no time during the ... concert did Tyler seek to incite or participate in riotous activity as has been reported in the press. It is clear from video clips and witness reports that the patrons and fans attending the show on that date were full of positive energy appropriate for this type of event and never exhibited any anger or aggression whatsoever...

For law enforcement or the media to describe the rush of fans through the gate and the subsequent benign, boisterous activity as a riot is an unfortunate and inaccurate description of what occurred.

The AP reports that Tyler could face up to a year in prison and a $4,000 fine if convicted.

[via Associated Press]