Akon Apologizes For Going Too Far

Posted Thursday May 10, 2007 6:21 PM GMT

Life is good when you’re a superstar…especially when your album is selling millions and you’re touring with Gwen Stefani. Akon is riding high on the wave of his success. Now if he could just keep his hands off the underage girls at his shows.

Last April 12th in Trinidad, Akon invited a girl onstage from the audience. Apparently overtaken by the moment, the “Smack That” rapper started dirty dancing with the willing participant, to the point of simulating sex.

In the age of video and picture technology, the whole thing was videotaped and circulated on the Internet. At that point, it was discovered that the girl was only 14 years old. For the 34-year-old rapper, that spelled b-a-d n-e-w-s.

Verizon, one of the tour’s sponsors, has since pulled out of the “Sweet Escape” tour headlined by Gwen Stefani. This could spell even more trouble for the Konvicted recording artist.

In a statement released Wednesday to The Associated Press, Akon, 34, said he was sorry for the incident, but also said he didn't know the girl was underage. "I want to sincerely apologize for the embarrassment and any pain I've caused to the young woman who joined me onstage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert," Akon said.

"It was never my intention to embarrass or take advantage of my fans in any way, especially those under the age of 18. That is why we tried to make sure that the club did not admit anyone under 18 in the audience," he said. "Somehow, that standard was not met."

Click below to enlarge the stage shots of Akon gettin' his grind on!

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