Celebrities reacted angrily to the prison sentence handed down to hapless rapper Meek Mill by a Philadelphia judge on Monday. Judge Genece Brinkley sentenced the 30-year-old Philly native to 2-4 years in prison for violating the terms of his probation stemming from a drug and weapons conviction in 2009.
Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was arrested twice on misdemeanor charges earlier this year.
Both charges were eventually dropped, but Judge Brinkley determined the arrests violated her orders for Mill to stay out of trouble with the law while on probation. She also extended his probation for nearly 10 years following another arrest in 2014.
Mill’s fellow rappers reacted with outrage at the sentence on Monday. Rap titan Jay-Z called Mill’s sentence “heavy handed.”
“The sentence handed down by the Judge – against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer – is unjust and heavy handed,” he wrote on Facebook. “We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career.”
Mill’s attorney Joe Tacopina told TMZ.com that he believes Judge Brinkley has a “long-standing vendetta” against his client.
Tacopina claims that during a meeting in chambers last year, Brinkley suggested to Mill that he should record a cover of Boyz II Men’s hit single “On Bended Knee” and give her a shout out.
When Mill laughed at the suggestion, Brinkley apparently said “I’m not kidding”. And when Mill refused to do the remake, Brinkley reportedly said “Okay, suit yourself”.
Tacopina claims Brinkley showed bias when sentencing Mill and added they are planning to appeal.
