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Offset Breaks Silence on Shooting After Being Released From the Hospital
Offset is on the road to recovery.
And the rapper (real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus) returned to the stage for his first performance less than a week after he was shot outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Offset got back on the proverbial horse at the University of Arkansas April 11, performing for the school’s annual Rowfest hours after he was released from the hospital. And though he arrived onstage in a wheelchair, as seen in a clip he shared to Instagram, the 34-year-old didn’t let his injury keep him down.
After being wheeled to center stage, the “Open It Up” rapper—dressed in a red long sleeve t-shirt, black pants, a hat and with a skeleton face covering—stood up and went on to perform many of his songs from his feet. Among the songs Offset performed for the students was Migos’ “Bad and Boujee.”
The Culture artist shared a few clips from the performance to his Instagram April 12, as well as some pictures of his outfit for the occasion. He captioned the series, alongside a red heart, “REAL LOVE.”
A few hours later, he shared an additional photo dump from a photoshoot at a pool, which he captioned, “God is good. Thank you.”
Offset—who shares kids Kulture, 7, Wave, 4, and Blossom, 19 months, with ex Cardi B, as well as three other kids from previous relationships—was hospitalized on April 6 for what Seminole County Police described to TMZ as “non-life threatening injuries.”
Offset/Instagram
Following the shooting, the Seminole Police Department confirmed to E! News that rapper Lil Tjay (real name Tione Merritt) was arrested and "charged with disorderly conduct—affray, a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida Statute."
"A second person detained at the scene has not been charged," the statement continued. "The investigation to identify one or more additional persons involved in the incident is ongoing. The injured individual remains at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., with a non-life threatening injury."
But while Lil Tjay was also charged with operating a vehicle without a valid license, according to jail records viewed by E! News, his attorney Dawn Florio denied her client’s involvement in the situation with Offset.
Offset/Instagram
"Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting," she posted to Instagram April 7. "Any reporting to the contrary is false. We encourage people to consult trusted news sources, and to verify the occurrence of any reporting, before reflexively sharing or repeating baseless rumors."
Lil Tjay is out on a $3,000 bond for both charges and is pending trial.
Meanwhile, following his release from the hospital, Offset expressed his gratitude for the support he’s received.
“Thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me and showed me love!” Offset posted to Instagram April 10. “I’m good….but I’m planning to be better!
“I’m focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the music…realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses….” he continued. “Life’s a gamble and I’m still playing to win.”
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