The New York Police Department has denied accusations that officers recorded fans leaving Drake’s show at the Apollo Theater in New York City this weekend.
TMZ reports via NYPD sources that the video of officers recording concertgoers wasn’t surveillance but rather being filmed for social media. The sources said the footage was to be used for a post that showed how police directly work with security at venues in the city to keep fans safe, and the cops seen in the clip are community affairs officers not affiliated with the detective bureau.
In a statement provided to Consequence of Sound, a spokesperson for the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information’s office said, “The officer depicted in the video is a Community Affairs officer involved with the 28th Precinct’s social media team. The officer was taking video for an upcoming Twitter post that will highlight local community events. The video will not be utilized for any other reason.”
Accusations that police recorded fans leaving the concert circulated following the first of two Drake shows at the Apollo Theater on Saturday and Sunday. Video making the rounds online fueled speculation as to why officers were filming attendees, and sparked debate on Twitter.
The footage of officers outside the venue wasn’t the online moment to attract attention online. During the Sunday performance, Drake and special guest 21 Savage briefly paused after a fan fell from a balcony. In a statement from the Apollo, the venue confirmed the fan was okay.
