Photo: Mindy Small/FilmMagic
Bow Wowis speaking out after being arrested forallegedly assaultingLeslie Holden, his ex-girlfriend andGrowing Up Hip Hop: Atlantacostar, in Atlanta.
Holden did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment, and it was not immediately known if Holden had retained an attorney who could comment on her behalf.
Reps forGrowing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta— the second season of which finished airing in December — had no comment.
Bow Wow’s lawyer said in his statement that “the only two independent witnesses both corroborated his version of events indicating that Ms. Holden was simply out of control and was without a doubt the primary aggressor.”
Bow Wow.Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock
“For no logical reason officers arrested both parties despite having clear-cut evidence that Bow Wow was the victim in the case,” the rapper’s lawyer continued in his statement. “Ms. Holden beat him with a lamp, bit him on his side, and spit on him while Bow Wow continually made efforts to avoid her.”
“Bow Wow suffered multiple injuries, some of which are visible in his mugshot. Ms. Holden’s mugshot, on the other hand, speaks for itself, despite her allegation to police that she broke a fingernail,” the statement continues. “Bow Wow feels very strongly that a man should never lay a hand on a woman, even in self-defense, hence his failure to defend himself here. We are confident that the charges against Bow Wow will be dismissed and look forward to assisting the Fulton County Solicitor General’s Office in prosecuting Ms. Holden.”
Police previously confirmed to PEOPLE that “both parties did sustain visible minor injuries.” The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, which previously released Bow Wow’s mugshot to the media, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for Holden’s mugshot.
According to online jail records, the former child star was charged with battery substantial physical harm, while Holden was charged with battery. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the Atlanta Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment about why the charges were different.
Holden and Bow Wow have an on-again, off-again relationship, according toTMZ, and do not appear to follow each other on social media.
“It was really hard because our relationship was so public,” she continued, adding that she was focused on her own career.
Since being released from jail, Bow Wow has shared several videos on Instagram from anight outand appeared to attend aSuper Bowlparty alongsideSean “Diddy” Combsand Jermaine Dupri.
If you suspect domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
