Months after a scathing report that calls his reputation into question, Akon has vaguely responded to the claims.
In an interview with MTV, Akon talks about the April-released report by TheSmokingGun.com that accused him of fabricating his past. The report uses interviews and documents to accuse Akon of serving a few months in an Atlanta jail for stealing a car—a far cry from the singer’s claims of spending three years in prison for being the ringleader of a “notorious” car-theft ring. While Akon doesn’t directly deny the content of the article, he says that due to his focus on positivity, that he appreciates the report.
“At the end of the day, the Konvict movement is keeping me out of jail,” Akon said. “It’s nothing I want to glorify or go back to. Honestly, I’m glad something like that came out, because it opens the minds of other people who’re thinking positive.
“We’re doing so many positive things,” he added. “To go back and focus and put energy on negative things like that, to try to discredit an artist, it makes no sense to me. If there was a motive for it, it would be worth entertaining. I’d rather keep it the way it is and leave the article out there. It only helps me. It’s not something I was trying to glorify or turn back to. It was something I was trying to forget. Actually, it worked out for me in a positive way.”
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TheSmokingGun.com began its report during Akon’s December arraignment for throwing a child offstage at one of his concerts. He was released without bail after a computer check didn’t turn up any outstanding warrants or prior criminal history. According to the report [click to read], only a more thorough check through the FBI turned up previous arrests.
