Jay Pharoah shares footage of cop kneeling on his neck
“I am a black man in America,” Jay Pharoah wrote on Instagram.
Jay Pharoah is speaking out against police brutality in America. In a post to social media, the 32-year-old actor shared footage of a cop kneeling on his neck in April, in a similar fashion to George Floyd.
In the four-minute clip, Pharoah explained that he was exercising in Los Angeles when he was ordered by an officer to get on the ground. The comedian said that authorities informed him that he fit the description of a suspect that was wanted for crime in that area.
“I’m thinking that he’s making a mistake. So I’m looking past where he’s looking. I’m looking at him, and I’m looking past me ‘cause I’m like, ‘Whoever they’re about to get, it’s just about to be terrible.’ No, he was coming to get me,” the comedian said.
He added, “They put me in cuffs, the officer took his knee, put it on my neck. It wasn’t as long as George Floyd, but I know how that feels. I said, ‘Why are you doing this? What’s wrong?’ They said, ‘You fit the description of a black man in this area with grey sweatpants on and a grey shirt.’ I told them, ‘Google right now Jay Pharoah, you will see you made a big mistake.’”
Following Pharoah’s video posted to social media, the LAPD announced that an investigation was underway. On Monday (June 15), the former “Saturday Night Live” cast member is scheduled to discuss his unfortunate encounter with authorities during an episode of “The Talk.”
Earlier this month, Derek Chauvin, a former cop who pressed his knee against George Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, was charged with second-degree manslaughter. As for the three other officers, they were charged with aiding and abetting murder – although one of them, Thomas Lane, posted bail after paying $750,000.