Jake Paul is being hit by charges.
Multiple outlets report that YouTube personality was charged with criminal trespassing for allegedly unlawfully entering into the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall in Arizona when it was closed. He was also charged with unlawful assembly. According to the report, he “was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and the rioters were ordered to leave the area by police.”
According to ABC 15, one assault and millions of dollar in damages were reported after the mall was broken into by crowds on Saturday (May 30).
He took to Twitter after news broke that he was being charged with the two misdeameanor charges, writing, “Gimme my charges and let’s put the focus back on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter.”
Last weekend, a video showing him in the mall as it was being looted and vandalized sparked major backlash against the YouTube personality.
He’s since issued a statement addressing the backlash, saying “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 wrote in his Notes app statement. “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 neighborhood we traveled through; we were strictly documenting, not engaging.”
“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,” he added. “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.”
He also uploaded a video on YouTube on Wednesday (June 3) to explain his side of the story, and announcing that the revenue from the video will be donated to Black Lives Matter.
Protests have been happening across the U.S. in the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death. The 46-year-old Minneapolis resident died on Monday (May 25) after a police officer kept him restrained on the ground with a knee on his neck for over eight minutes. The four officers have since been fired and taken into custody. The police officer who was videotaped pressing his knee against George’s neck is now being charged with second-degree murder, and the three other officers on scene during his killing were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
