American rapper Rick Ross turned himself in to police in Miami early Thursday morning and was arrested on two counts of battery stemming from a domestic dispute in August, according to a report by TMZ.
The rapper, born William Leonard Roberts II, 50, was booked after his ex-girlfriend alleged he became violent with her following an argument over a photo on social media.
According to the complaint cited by TMZ, the incident occurred in August 2026 at the home the couple shared.
The ex-girlfriend alleges she was sleeping when Ross woke her up in what she described as a jealous rage over a photo she was tagged in on Instagram. She claims he questioned her about lying to him and then slapped her in the face.
She further alleges that Ross then accused her of being involved in a relationship with someone else, and that each time she denied the accusation, he struck her.
The identity of the ex-girlfriend has not been publicly released by police.
Ross Pleads Not Guilty
Ross surrendered to authorities on Thursday morning, accompanied by his legal team.
He has pleaded not guilty to both battery charges. He remains in custody as of Thursday afternoon pending a bond hearing.
In a statement through his lawyers, Ross denied the allegations, saying he was falsely accused. His attorneys asked fans to refrain from judgment and to “let the judicial system prove his innocence.”
Miami-Dade Police have not yet released a full arrest affidavit.
Rick Ross, founder of Maybach Music Group, is one of the most commercially successful rappers of the last 15 years, known for hits including _Hustlin’_, _Aston Martin Music_ and _Stay Schemin’_.
This is not his first encounter with law enforcement. He was previously arrested in 2015 in Georgia on kidnapping and aggravated assault charges in a separate case, which were later settled, and has faced other misdemeanor charges over his career.
In Florida, simple battery is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine per count, though charges can be enhanced in domestic violence cases to include no-contact orders and mandatory counseling programs if convicted.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of domestic violence allegations against high-profile figures in the US music industry.
TMZ reports that the investigation is ongoing and that prosecutors in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office will determine whether to formally file the charges in the coming days.
