Meek Mill calls Las Vegas Cosmopolitan Hotel racist after being denied access by two staff members and told he could be arrested for trespassing upon entering. In the video below you can hear the staff explaining, "We are private property, at this time, with the information we have, we're refusing to do business with you, we have the right to do that."
In the footage, the Philly rapper is seen asking the staff why he was being denied, but wasn't given any clarification behind the hotel refusing to allow him in. However, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas released a statement blaming the incident on security issues, “At The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the safety and security of our guests is our top priority. The recent situation regarding Meek Mill related to a matter of security, not race, and any reports citing otherwise are false. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive environment, with zero tolerance for discrimination. Under different circumstances, Meek Mill would be welcomed to the resort, but not at the compromise of his personal safety and the safety of our guests.” they continued, "Regarding the reported incident on Saturday, May 25, Marquee Dayclub had reached capacity per Las Vegas Fire Marshall code. Earlier that day, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police had been called onsite to manage a larger than usual venue crowd."
The rapper's publicist, Didier Morais, provided CNN with a statement on behalf of Meek Mill's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, addressing the hotel's claim about capacity concerns.
"The assertion that the Cosmopolitan denied Meek because of capacity concerns at Marquee Dayclub is outright false," Tacopina's statement read. "In the recorded video, Meek also inquired about getting a meal at one of the hotel's restaurants, yet their security team continued to deny Meek and said he would be arrested for trespassing regardless of location in the hotel premises. The Cosmopolitan's conduct continues to be deplorable."
Meek Mill might not the first black artist to receive this type of treatment from the hotel. As he expressed via Twitter, "The cosmopolitan hotel .... and it’s a few other hotels that be doing this to black entertainers because they don’t want too many blacks on they property! Vegas notorious for this too its not just me!!!!"
TMZ claims they obtained a demand letter written by Meek's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, to the Cosmopolitan. Tacopina writes, "...we have learned that the Cosmopolitan maintains a list of African American recording artists who should be denied access for no other reason than than their culture and skin color. Such course of conduct constitutes discrimination per se, in violation of state and federal law, and exposes you to significant monetary damages."
The letter goes on -- "...we urge you to promptly issue an apology to Mr. Williams and grant him immediate access. In the event you fail to heed this one and only warning, we intend to pursue all legal recourse against you."
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