Tone Loc Detained At Airport Following Shouting Match Over Confederate Flag Hat

BY Erika Marie 4.2K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Tone Loc
The rapper got into it with a white family in Texas.

We haven't heard much about Tone Loc since he collapsed onstage during a concert in  Des Moines, Iowa back in 2013, but the legendary "Wild Thing" rapper reportedly had a recent run-in with the law. According to reports, Tone Loc, real name Anthony Terrell Smith, got into an argument at Midland International Air & Space airport in Texas with a white couple.

Witnesses say that Smith became irritable after he spotted a teenager wearing a hat decorated with the Confederate flag. The teen was reportedly with two adults, a male and a female, and Smith asked them, "How are you going to wear that hat in front of a black man?" The parents snapped back to Smith, telling him that the child was a minor and it was none of his business what the teen wore. Smith responded by apologizing for how he delivered his initial statement, but he reiterated that he didn't think the hat was appropriate attire.

Even with apologies given, the argument went on and continued as they all made their way outside of the airport. The situation escalated and the three adults were yelling at each other. "You ain't nobody!" the woman repeatedly screamed at Smith. In a video of the incident, Smith is seen outside pointing in the face of the father saying, "You need to watch your son!" as the father replies, "He can wear whatever he wants!" 

There was some pushing a shoving of Smith before he told someone to "get up off me." As Smith and the man continued to argue with the woman in the background yelling, "This is America, freedom of speech! Freedom of religion!" two police offers exited the airport, walked directly up to Smith, and immediately handcuffed him. "Oh, but you're gonna let him go?" Smith asked.

The rapper was later released as neither party wanted to press charges


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.