Mos Def Arrested: Rapper Arrested For Using Fake Passport, Twitter Laughs [VIDEO]
Mos Def is in hot water after trying to pull a fast one in South Africa.
The socially-conscious rapper and actor, who changed his stage name to Yaslin Bay, was arrested after he allegedly broke immigration laws in South Africa when trying to leave the country Thursday. He already made an appearance in court and has two weeks to leave, the Associated Press reported Friday.
He was taken into custody for trying to use a “world passport” that authorities did not recognize when he attempted to leave South Africa, Department of Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said.
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He first went to South Africa in 2013 but was soon in the country illegally, as he'd overstayed his visitor status by the following year (even though he has lived in Cape Town since 2013). Now he cannot return until 2021. But all hope isn’t lost for him as he could file an appeal. And he’s not alone. Some of his family and others close to him were also in the country illegally.
Meanwhile, fans are showing no mercy to him on Twitter.
Some said they hoped the Customs Officer used a pun with his name.
Officer: You are mos def... Yasiin Bey: I'm Yasiin Bey Officer: Mos de.. Yasiin Bey: I'M YASIIN BEY Officer: MOST DEFINITELY STAYING IN S.A.
— Sean Peter Stanley (@SeanPStanley) January 15, 2016
"Rapper Known as Mos Def Arrested for Using Fake Passport" I hope 2 God the Customs Officer said "That is mos def not a real passport-Zing!" — Rachel KallemWhitman (@RKallemWhitman) January 15, 2016
Others couldn't help but laugh at Mos Def’s attempt to use a “World Passport.”
I'm dying at Mos Def making a DIY 'World Passport'
— DarkSkintDostoyevsky (@daniecal) January 15, 2016
Still, one said that if anyone deserves a “world passport,” it’s Mos Def.
honestly if we're gonna give anyone a "world passport" Mos Def seems like a pretty strong candidate https://t.co/ZGZYIznqVR — Kyle Kramer (@KyleKramer) January 15, 2016
But another said he was thinking a little too highly of himself for trying to get around the law.
I don't know how Mos Def expected to safely pass immigration laws here when the dalai lama can't.
— IG: BarryRouxLaw (@Barry_Roux) January 15, 2016
Another wondered where else one could use a “world passport.” “In North Korea??”
Mos Def says he has a world passport. What is a world passport, does it work in North Korea ??? — Anele Mdoda (@Anele) January 15, 2016