Raz B is speaking out after being arrested and charged with allegedly strangling his girlfriend in a parking lot on Wednesday.
Police in Hennepin County Minnesota said that Raz B, whose given name is De’Mario Monte Thornton, choked his girlfriend in a parking lot. The violent incident resulted in him being held in the county’s jail without bond, and being charged with domestic assault.
The B2K singer, who is currently on tour with other members of B2K, addressed his arrest in a statement shared on his Instagram story on Thursday.
The statement read that “Raz B takes full responsibility for his actions.”
“The incident comes after a long history of publicly documented trauma for the musician, and difficulties coping with its aftermath,” it continued. “The incident represents a turning point after years of isolation, repressed emotions, and unhealthy coping mechanisms in response to childhood trauma.”
The statement characterized the group reuniting for their record-breaking Millennium Tour as the “catalyst” for triggering the reappearance of his “deep-seeded issues.”
It ended with pleas for “support and privacy” along with an apology to those affected by Thornton’s reported actions.
“Raz B apologizes to his family, his fans, and most importantly his group mates of B2K—who he considers his brothers and never intended to disappoint in this way.”