Las Vegas, NV – Meek Mill and his attorney Joe Tacopina are planning to sue the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Philly rapper was refused entry into the establishment on Saturday (May 25) for reasons he believes are rooted in racism.
In a statement to TMZ, the hotel explained they didn’t allow Meek into the Marquee Dayclub — where DJ Mustard was performing — because of an alleged altercation on their property, but then they shifted gears and said it was because they were at “capacity.”
But Tacopina quickly called foul on their explanation.
“The assertion that the Cosmopolitan denied Meek because of capacity concerns at Marquee Dayclub is outright false,” he said. “In the recorded video, Meek also inquired about getting a meal at one of the hotel’s restaurants, yet their security team continued to deny Meek.
“[They] said he would be arrested for trespassing regardless of location in the premises. The Cosmopolitan’s conduct continues to be deplorable.”
The cosmopolitan hotel …. and it’s a few other hotels that be doing this to black entertainers because they don’t want too many blacks on they property! Vegas notorious for this too its not just me!!!! pic.twitter.com/HPySp2nh8h
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 25, 2019
Tacopina insists they will end up paying “heavy monetary damages.” He vows to bleed them dry for “lying and humiliating Meek” and says he will “take this place down because of what they did.”
Meek’s lawyer claims there’s a list of black rappers who are banned from other Sin City hotels. He says he’s already identified two other rappers — Yo Gotti and BlocBoy JB — who have made similar complaints against other Vegas hotels.
Meek Mill was barred from entering the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon (May 25). The Philly-bred rapper and two of his security guards arrived at the property around 3:30 p.m. local time when security stopped them.
When Meek confronted them about their reason behind the ban, the security officers accused him of “trespassing” and threatened to arrest him, yet they never explained why exactly he wasn’t allowed at the hotel. Meek quickly took to Twitter to blast the Cosmopolitan for their perceived racist behavior.
“If you come from our culture you should never step foot in the cosmopolitan hotel they just really racist as hell,” he wrote. “Something really has to be done in Las Vegas what they doing to black people!”
He added, “They telling black rappers they are banned from properties without incident … they just told me I was trespassing and I will be arrested. I stepped in that hotel once at a jayz party without incident!”
If you come from our culture you should never step foot in the cosmopolitan hotel they just really racist as hell …. something really has to be done in Las Vegas what they doing to black people!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 25, 2019
They telling black rappers they are banned from properties they own without incident … they just told me I was trespassing and I will be arrested I stepped in that hotel once at a jayz party without incident!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 25, 2019
The Championships mastermind shared video of the security team saying they are “refusing” to do business with him and that they “have a right” to do that.
“The cosmopolitan hotel …. and it’s a few other hotels that be doing this to black entertainers because they don’t want too many blacks on they property!” he captioned the clip. “Vegas notorious for this too its not just me!!!!”
The cosmopolitan hotel …. and it’s a few other hotels that be doing this to black entertainers because they don’t want too many blacks on they property! Vegas notorious for this too its not just me!!!! pic.twitter.com/HPySp2nh8h
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 25, 2019
In a letter obtained by HipHopDX, Meek’s attorney Joe Tacopina called out Anthony Pearl who works for the Cosmopolitan, threatening legal action if Meek doesn’t get an apology. Tacopina also reveals the hotel allegedly keeps a list of black entertainers who aren’t allowed on the property.
Mr. Pearl,
Please be advised the our firm represents performing artist Robert Williams, known professionally as Meek Mill. It has come to our attention that your hotel, through its security personnel, brazenly denied access to Mr. Williams without just cause. In fact, the incident of his exclusion was captured on a recording. And, evidenced thereby, despite inquiring as to the reason for his denied access, Mr. Williams was afforded no explanation whatsoever. Simply put, your security chief embarrassingly did not even know the reason for Mr. William’s denied entry.
Your hotel’s failure to provide a reason for singling our Mr. Williams is incredibly telling. In short, we have learned that the Cosmopolitan maintains a list of African American recoding artists who should be denied access for no other reason than their culture and skin color. Such course of conduct constitutes discrimination per se, in violation of state and federal law, and exposes you to significant monetary damages.
In light of the foregoing, we urge you to promptly issue an apology to Mr. Williams and grant him immediate access. In the event you fail to heed this one and only warning, we intend to pursue all legal recourse against you.
The 32-year-old ended his tirade with, “I needs lawyers ASAP y’all not gone treat me like I’m just a rapper and expect me to be quiet.”
Meek was on site to see a DJ Mustard show. Cosmopolitan has yet to respond to Meek’s public outcry.
I needs lawyers ASAP y’all not gone treat me like I’m just a rapper and expect me to be quiet
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 25, 2019
