Jake Paul Gets Charged For Allegedly Taking Part In Mall Riot

Thousands of Americans have been arrested during ongoing protests and unrest that are a response to the death of George Floyd — and a YouTuber has just been added to the growing list of those facing charges.

Jake Paul, 23, was identified as one of the many who allegedly participated in an unlawful protest inside Arizona’s Scottsdale Fashion Square mall over the weekend. 

“The Scottsdale Police Department has received hundreds of tips and videos from the community in response to Saturday nights events at Fashion Square Mall,” police stated on Thursday. “During our ongoing investigation it was confirmed that social media influencer Jake Paul was in attendance and remained inside of the mall after an unlawful assembly was declared and has been charged with Criminal Trespass and Unlawful Assembly.”

The department noted on Wednesday that they arrested 20 people so far as a result of the mall protests which caused millions in damage, AzFamily reports. 

Jake Paul Photo: Getty Images

Paul, who has over 20 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, tweeted Thursday about the charges, stating, “Gimme my charges and let’s put the focus back on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter.” 

Paul denied participating in any “looting or vandalism” on Sunday, adding, “For context, we spent the day doing our part to peacefully protest one of the most horrific injustices our country has ever seen, which led to us being tear-gassed for filming the events and brutality that were unfolding in Arizona.”

He claimed he and his associates were "strictly documenting, not engaging," adding that he does not condone breaking the law.

The influencer received criticism in 2018 after video captured him rapping and using the n-word, Billboard reported at the time. His brother Logan Paul, also a YouTuber, was the center of controversy the same year after he created a video in Japan's "suicide forest" for his channel.