Western student union dithers on whether to keep troubled Purple Fest headliner
U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky was convicted in Sweden on Wednesday of assault over a Stockholm street brawl
Student leaders at Western University have yet to make a decision on whether to keep troubled U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky as the headline act for this year's Purple Fest.
A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was convicted on Wednesday along with two members of his entourage, Bladimir Corniel and David Rispers, after they were found guilty of kicking and beating a 19-year-old man following an argument.
The case made headlines around the world after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded the musician's release.
Mayers was sentenced to two years probation following his release. He is still scheduled as the headline act at Purple Fest on the Western University campus in London, Ont. on September 28.
The event was created by Western's University Students' Council in 2016 as an attempt to reduce the number of people attending "Fake Homecoming" or FoCo, an unsanctioned street party that attracts tens of thousands of students and other young people for a one-day bender that stretches the city's resources to their limits.
The University Students' Council declined to comment Wednesday, saying it's not prepared to announce anything at this time.
The lack of a decision could cause more public relations headaches for Western, which blundered through its last two convocations after guest speakers made controversial remarks.
In June, Western University apologized after Canadian composer Stephan Moccio recalled his time as a student at Western when he drove up to the university and saw a sign that said, "Thank you fathers for dropping off your virgin daughters."
In October, businessman and philanthropist Aubrey Dan apologized for a remark he made during a convocation ceremony at Western University, which some faculty members deemed sexist.
During his address to the graduating class, Dan — an alumnus of the London, Ont., school — cited Playboy when he recalled his reasoning for transferring there as an teen.
"According to Playboy magazine, at that time, the women are among the best in North America, and obviously they still are," he said.