Celebrity arrests inevitably make headlines, but when it comes to rapper Trick Daddy’s recent arrest, the internet was more than a little harsh. According to TMZ, Trick Daddy was charged with cocaine possession and driving under the influence in January 2020. The resulting mugshot went viral and sparked a slew of cruel comments on Twitter. The trolling got so out of hand that the rapper, whose real name is Maurice Young, posted a message on Facebook to discuss his appearance.
Let’s take a closer look at this situation as Trick Daddy explains the sad truth behind his mocked mugshot.
Trick Daddy's feelings 'don't hurt easily,' but the mocking still isn't okay
Trick Daddy was arrested early on the morning of Jan. 11, 2020. According to the Miami Herald, an officer “responded to a report of a driver hitting signs and running red lights in a dark colored Range Rover” around 3:20 a.m. “When the officer approached the driver’s side, he saw that the driver ‘appeared to be asleep behind the wheel,'” the police report said. Trick Daddy failed a field sobriety test and at the station, “police found cocaine inside a dollar bill” among his possessions.
Trick Daddy’s mugshot soon began to circulate online, prompting gobs of jokes about his patchy hairline. One person tweeted: “Someone should have tricked him into getting a haircut.” Another said: “Man I’ve seen corpses that look like they doing better than 2020 Trick Daddy.”
The truth is, the rapper has been battling lupus, and symptoms can include hair loss, fatigue, and a range of other hardships. Trick Daddy took to his Facebook page to push back against the online trolls: “Let me get this right .. you lie on me .. make fun of the fact that I Have lupus … and all this just for likes .. thank god im strong .. everything is funny until it hits close to home .. my feelings don’t hurt easily I’m too worried about waking up tomorrow.”
Trick Daddy has been open about his battle with lupus
Lupus is “a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body,” per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not only is lupus difficult to diagnose, but the CDC also notes there is no cure, even if the person manages it with treatment. Symptoms vary but can include hair loss, muscle and joint pain, extreme fatigue, fever, kidney problems, and more.
Trick Daddy opened up about the disease on a radion show in 2009. “I went to the doctor like 12 years ago. He took all kinds of tests, because I was trying to get rid of what we call dry skin, she did biopsies and blood tests and swab tests. She told me I have the disease lupus,” he said at the time (via XXL.) Despite the challenges, he has remained optimistic. “I’m the type of person, I came from so far of a struggle that it don’t matter to me, I learned to turn my downsides into jokes and get around it.”
The rapper isn’t the only celebrity to speak out about lupus. Pop star Selena Gomez has been vocal about her battle with lupus, admitting (via E! News) that her condition “got to a point where it was life-or-death” and required a kidney transplant. Other celebrities with lupus include Nick Cannon, Toni Braxton, and Lady Gaga, per Healthline.
Trick Daddy tries to self-medicate his autoimmune disease
It’s not what a doctor would recommend, but Trick Daddy has admitted he self-medicates his lupus with drugs and alcohol. In a 2015 interview with The Breakfast Club, the rapper said: “When I smoke weed and coke, the worst thing that’s gonna happen to me is I’mma go to sleep or eat. If I take Lupus medicine, I gotta take a pill for this pill, a pill for that pill… then I gotta go back to the doctor every Thursday and give them my money.”
Trick Daddy had plenty to say about the topic on the radio show. “I don’t take medicine. I’m an avid drinker,” he said. “…And I use the best drugs that money can buy from my homies from the hood, from the trap.” Learning how Trick Daddy deals with the disease certainly adds context to his recent arrest. Please note: Do not try that at home. The CDC recommends speaking to a doctor to find the right treatment for lupus, since symptoms vary by person.
This wasn't Trick Daddy's first run-in with the law
The incident in January 2020 wasn’t Trick Daddy’s first arrest. According to the Miami Herald, he was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine, and driving with a suspended license in 2014. He was also arrested for possession of cocaine, carrying a concealed firearm, and violating probation way back in 1991, which resulted in two years in jail. He also faced assault charges for allegedly threatening to kill another man over a street basketball game in 2003, per the Herald.
While Trick Daddy’s record is far from squeaky clean, it’s one thing to critically discuss someone’s behavior — and an entirely different situation to mock their appearance and health. Here’s hoping the rapper finds the help and support he needs in the year ahead.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can contact SAMHSA’s free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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