Kevin Gates Reportedly Claims He Kicked Fan in Self-Defense Under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Law

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Kevin Gates made headlines for all the wrong reasons last year after he violently kicked a female fan in the chest at one of his concerts. She had grabbed his shorts beforehand, but many people thought the response was disproportionate. He ended up being charged with simple battery for the incident.

Now, with the legal wheels in motion, Gates is coming out in defense of his actions. According to a report from TMZ, the rapper claims in court documents that he kicked the fan in self-defense under Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law. He claims the victim, Miranda Dixon, grabbed his shorts twice, and since he gave her a verbal warning the first time, he was within his rights to defend himself. The report says that he believed Dixon was trying to pull him offstage, and thus used "necessary force" to ensure his own safety.

There's no word on whether or not that's going to hold up in court, but it's certainly possible. Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law was also invoked by George Zimmerman's defense after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in 2012, although it was not actually used in the final trial.

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