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Samra 2019 on stage in Berlin
Photo: Jan Huebner / Lakomski / imago images
A MeToo debate is looming in the German rap scene, triggered by statements by influencer Nika Irani. She had accused the musician Samra in several Instagram posts of raping her. The incident occurred between June 20 and 26 last year, Irani said. Samra had choked her in the bedroom of his recording studio, threw her on the bed and choked her. "I said no over 20 times, then he tore open my underpants and tore them up and I just let it go," said Irani.
Samra, whose real name is Hussein Akkouche, has now publicly denied the allegations. "I have not raped anyone, neither the person who accused me of this, nor other people," said Samra in a statement on Instagram. The level-headed text was followed by several angry videos in which the rapper insulted Irani and accused him of lying. You need psychological help. He called on his fans to defend him. "Go out there and show (...) that this bitch is spreading lies," Samra said.
The musician also defended himself cynically in other statements: Irani may have felt offended because he "didn't bring her any flowers home the next day" and therefore accused him.
"I love women, women love me, I don't have to do that," said Samra.
At the same time, it could be that he was "not a gentleman" towards the 22-year-old.
Universal Music Germany pauses cooperation
Without specifying the name Samra, Universal Music Germany announced in an Instagram story on Friday: »Serious allegations were made against one of our artists on social media.
Specifically, it concerns the allegation of sexual violence.
(...) Due to the seriousness of the allegations, we have decided to suspend our collaboration with the artist in question until the allegations have been clarified. «Samra's albums have so far been released by Urban Records, a subsidiary of Universal.
The case has sparked a debate about sexual assault throughout the German rap scene.
On Instagram, for example, the “deutschrapmetoo” page wants to collect cases and network those affected.
On Twitter, numerous users shared their experiences with familiar faces from the scene.
rai / dpa