Over 300,000 Sign Petition For ASAP Rocky’s Release From Swedish Prison

A petition demanding rapper ASAP Rocky’s release from a Swedish prison has attracted more than 300,000 signatures in 16 hours.

The New York-born hip-hop star, 30, was detained in Stockholm on July 1 on suspicion of “gross assault” after he was allegedly involved in a fight.

A Swedish court ordered him to spend two weeks in pre-trial detention while police investigate the incident.

A petition, apparently launched by his hip-hop collective ASAP Mob is calling for his release, claiming he has been denied the right to fair representation and is being held in “inhumane conditions”.

Swedish authorities have denied the allegations.

Among the celebrities to have put their names to the ‘#JusticeForRocky’ petition are Post Malone, Lil Yachty, Miguel and ASAP Ferg.

The Change.org appeal, directed at “Swedish Officials” alleges that ASAP Rocky, his bodyguard and two performers from his show, acted in “self-defence” after “two men followed, harassed and physically assaulted them in Stockholm”.

It adds that video footage from the night shows the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, pleading to his “assailants” that “he does not want any issues”.

“We are surprised that something like this could happen in Sweden to people who were minding their business and forced to defend themselves from a group of assailants,” the petition’s message continues.

“This should be about justice. Rocky has been in prison for six days for the use of self-defence.”

The alleged brawl took place on Sunday, June 30 before the hip-hop star appeared at a music festival in the Swedish capital.

A video published by US showbiz website TMZ appears to show him throwing a punch at another man in the street.

It is not clear who else was involved in the incident.

In another video posted to his Instagram account, ASAP Rocky alleged two men had been following him and his team through Stockholm, accusing them of attacking his security with headphones.

Police held him on Wednesday, forcing him to cancel performances in Norway, Poland and London, where he was due to headline Wireless festival.