The upcoming Hot 97 Summer Jam 2023 is encountering legal obstacles ahead of the scheduled date.
After a decade-long run at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, the annual Hip Hop festival is debuting at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, this Sunday. This marks the first time the event will take place at an indoor venue.
The event guarantees appearances from renowned figures in the Hip Hop industry, such as Cardi B, Ice Spice, GloRilla, French Montana, The LOX, and many others. However, authorities in Nassau County, New York, expressed their discontent and filed a request on Thursday for a temporary restraining order against the Festival Village, the open-air segment of the festival that is free to the public.
Within the complaint, Nassau County voiced concerns regarding the safety of Summer Jam. The complaint asserts the festival is a public nuisance and presents a potential threat of “irreparable harm” to not only attendees but also the police officers on duty and the surrounding areas.
The complaint emphasized that the anticipated 20,000 attendees at the festival would likely lead to overcrowding problems. It also pointed out Summer Jam’s track record of violent and criminal incidents, including the 2015 stampede incident.
Additionally, the complaint highlighted the occurrence of the “fuck NYPD” chant during Roddy Ricch’s 2022 performance, as well as the unfortunate incidents of multiple deaths at GloRilla’s concert in Rochester, New York, in March 2023.
“In light of the facts and data listed above, it is my professional opinion that the event poses a clear safety risk to the public planning to attend the event, as well as the communities surrounding the venue,” Joseph V. Barbieri, Assistant Chief with the Nassau County Police Department, said.
