A photojournalist who covered Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire trial says a member of Kanye West’s security team pushed him as he filmed the rapper leaving a Los Angeles courthouse.
Michael Blackshire, an independent journalist who previously worked for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, described the incident in an exclusive interview with Urban Hollywood 411.
“His security yanks my phone out of my hand and pushes me back,” Blackshire said. “The bodyguard was being agitated and aggressive.”
The situation unfolded outside the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez U.S. Courthouse on Aug. 27, when West — who now goes by Ye — made a surprise appearance at the trial.
Blackshire said he chose to wait until after Durk’s trial to discuss the incident because he did not want it to distract from the case.
The photographer had stepped out of an overflow courtroom to take a break when he spotted Ye leaving. He recorded the rapper walking outside the courthouse to a waiting car.
Related: Kanye West Berates TMZ Photographer on Hollywood Walk of Fame for ‘Dumba–‘ Question
According to Blackshire, a member of Ye’s security detail lunged at him and snatched his phone. He said the security team told him he was “too close” to the rapper, but Blackshire maintained he had given the hip-hop star plenty of room.
“They said ‘no photos and videos’… It’s not at his concert, it’s outside of the court and anyone has a right [to film] as a fan, as a journalist,” said Blackshire.
Maxine Johnson, a local community activist, said she attended the trial daily and was outside when Ye left court.
“Obviously, seeing Kanye West and being a fan of his, I was excited to see him at first,” she said.
Johnson said she grabbed her phone and started recording.
“The security tells me to delete my footage, aggressively,” Johnson recalled. “Being a fan, it really did hurt my feelings.”
Video of the incident showed a small group of photographers and fans recording West as he left court. But Blackshire alleged Ye’s security targeted him.
Johnson questioned whether Blackshire, who is Black, was treated differently because of his race.
“I do not feel it would have happened to a white journalist, but it shouldn’t happen to anybody,” she said.
Urban Hollywood 411 contacted a representative for Ye for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Blackshire said he regularly covers court cases as an independent journalist and did not approach Ye with a confrontational question.
“It’s not like I asked him some clickbait question… I literally asked, ‘Is there anything you would like to say to the family?’ That’s it,” he recalled.
“There was no respect for me being a Black journalist,” Blackshire added. “It was his bodyguard and him just like, ‘get out of our way,’ and I was respecting his personal space.”
Johnson added, “It just was not okay.”
The two counted four security guards with the rapper. Asked if they felt physically threatened, Johnson offered a candid assessment.
“It’s not about us feeling anything. [Michael] was assaulted. Cameras don’t lie,” she said.
They recalled some of Ye’s security guards remained at the courthouse to discuss what happened after the rapper was driven away.
“I guess attempting to do some damage control,” said Johnson.
Blackshire said a member of the security team took his contact information, but he never received a follow-up or apology.
A jury acquitted Durk of all charges earlier this month.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
