A promotional event Monday night in Hollywood for up-and-coming rapper Phora spiraled out of control, leaving at least ten people injured.
Video posted on social media showed a massive crowd gathered outside a Shoe Palace store at the Hollywood & Highland complex — all hoping to meet the Southern California performer and score free shoes.
Event security became overwhelmed by the crowd and the Los Angeles Police Department was called in, witnesses reported on social media.
Once officers arrived, several people began to run away, leading to what the LAPD described as an “outdoor crowd surge.”
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As attendees trampled one another, as least ten people suffered minor injuries, the Los Angeles Fire department said. Among the injured, eight who were taken to area hospitals and two were treated at the scene.
Twitter user Jabari Barrett posted video on Twitter of the gigantic crowd and described the situation as “nuts.”
Local news station ABC7 tweeted a photo of firefighters and paramedics tending to the injured. “Multiple people treated for injuries,” the station captioned the post.
Phora, whose real name is Marco Anthony Archer, wrote on Twitter Monday night that he purchased shoes for hundreds of people who attended his meet and greet. But he said the event was shut down after 6,000 people showed up — apparently many more than the rapper expected.
“I appreciate the love, thank you to the fans,” he wrote in the Oct. 8 post.
In an interview earlier in the evening, the Anaheim native said he regretted that his promotional event got out of hand.
“I’m so sorry,” he told ABC7. “I personally took someone to the hospital myself. It’s super hectic out here tonight. I appreciate the fans, I appreciate the love.”
The rapper announced the release of his new album, Love Is Hell, last week on social media.
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