Traditionally, Hip-Hop artists have been known as many things. Poet laureates, unorthodox educators, cultural historians; all names harken to their powerful and important positions within the Black community. To whom much is given is much expected, so goes an old adage, which is why it is so troubling when those entrusted to tell the tales and stories within the community make “mistakes” that can only be described as remedial or best. Clifford Smith, internationally known as Method Man, recently made one such mistake. No stranger to trouble, the New York rapper has found himself in hot water once again. This time, an act made in jest may cost the rapper dearly.
A woman in Fort Bend County, Texas has filed a lawsuit against the legendary rapper, alleging that he shot her with a pellet gun while she attempted to get an autograph from him after a concert at Houston’s House of Blues. The victim, Mary Anderson, filed the papers in Harris County’s District Court last Thursday. In her claim, she states that the Wu-Tang general shot her at least six times in her chest and torso, which required immediate medical attention. The rapper is also accused of inflicting bodily injury, causing emotional distress, as well as inflicting offensive physical contact. All of those afflictions are causing Anderson to request compensation for physical pain in suffering in the past and future, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement and legal and medical bills incurred because of the shooting.
“The conduct of the defendant was so extreme and outrageous in character and so extreme in degree as to go beyond all bounds of decency and should be regarded as atrocious conduct and utterly intolerable in a civilized society, said Anderson’s attorney, Daniel Horowitz III. Method Man has yet to release a statement on the conflict.
