Back in July 2017, a disturbing video that appeared to feature designer and A$AP Mob co-founder A$AP Bari sexually harassing a woman in London surfaced on Instagram.
The video itself shows Bari – real name Jabari Shelton – talking to a naked woman in a hotel room, pulling the bedsheets off her and saying: “You fucked my assistant, now you’re going to suck my dick”. The woman – who refers to her harasser as ‘Bari’, runs out of the room crying.
Following the release of the video, Bari said in a now-deleted tweet that it was “fake” and “edited”, but the video led to Nike (who previously collaborated with his VLONE label) cutting ties with him, and his eventual arrest on two counts of sexual assault on May 16. Unlike the sportswear giant, Bari still appeared on the front row of both Alyx and Dior Man’s SS19 shows in June last year, prompting people to question the industry’s stance on the #MeToo movement.
Now, despite previously denying all claims, Bari has admitted to one count of sexual assault at the Old Bailey today. Appearing outside the courthouse wearing a balaclava, according to the Press Association, Bari was fined £4,000 and made to pay both the victim and the court £2,500. When ruling, the judge unsurprisingly said Bari had a “very unpleasant attitude” towards women.