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R&B singer Mark Morrison was arrested in Florida after he allegedly shoved a restaurant manager during a heated exchange, according to reports.
A conflict involving a musician known for a single hit in the 90s occurred on Saturday at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach. As per a police report from TMZ, Morrison barged into the restaurant and got into a heated argument with the manager about an incident from the previous night.
According to the report, Morrison, aged 50, began shouting and using foul language towards the general manager of the venue regarding an event they had discussed on Friday.
During the altercation, witnesses informed the police that they saw the singer of “Return of the Mack” pushing the manager, who chose not to retaliate despite being shoved.
A witness quickly stepped in and separated the men before things escalated further, police said. Morrison then left the venue.
The recording artist was arrested by police and charged with simple battery following the altercation, TMZ reported.
A photo obtained by the outlet shows Morrison, donning a black shirt, tan shorts, and yellow shoes, being placed in cuffs by arresting officers before he was detained overnight.
The “Moan and Groan” singer posted a $1,000 bond and was released Sunday morning.
The restaurant’s nightlife manager, Fabrizio Riillo, told the Palm Beach Daily News Morrison brought another singer to the popular spot on Friday for an event he planned.
Morrison repeatedly told the singer’s crew to turn up the volume, but when it got too loud, the restaurant’s general manager, Nicola Lavacca, told the R&B star to turn it down, Riillo claimed.
“Mark Morrison came back on Saturday night looking for a fight,” Riillo told the outlet.
Morrison’s attorney, Rick King, told TMZ that the incident between his client and the manager “arose in the context of a racially charged confrontation.”
“It is important to acknowledge that this altercation between Mr. Morrison and the male employee of the Le Bar à Vin, Nicola Lavacca, arose in the context of a racially charged confrontation,” King said.
“At this time, Mr. Morrison and legal counsel are working diligently to ensure that the facts of the case are fully understood and appropriately addressed.”
King said that the singer is cooperating with authorities and that he is confident that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation.
The attorney asked the public not to rush to conclusions or judge Morrison until all the facts have been laid out and presented.
Morrison is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on April 15 at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.
Morrison is known for the 1990s songs “Crazy,” “Let’s Get Down,” and “Return of the Mack.”
“Return of the Mack” was ranked number 318 in Billboard’s 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time in 2023 and reached 500 million streams on Spotify in January.
Morrison was born in Germany and lived in Leicester, England, until he moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, at age 11.
The R&B singer has had multiple run-ins with the law in the past.
He was convicted for attempting to bring a firearm aboard an airliner and served three months in jail in 1997.
“Return of the Mack” hit number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 that same year.
In 1998, Morrison was in Barbados when he was supposed to appear in court for charges related to possessing an offensive weapon.
When he returned to the UK, he was arrested but was later cleared of the charges.
However, later that year, the singer was sentenced to a year in jail after he hired a lookalike to do his court-ordered community service following his conviction for his involvement in a brawl that ended with one person killed, The Independent reported at the time.