Former Scene cover boy Machine Gun Kelly is again in the news for his patented brand of tightly-laced mayhem. The fast rising rap star was invited to a Microsoft store in an Atlanta mall to perform. He did his thing, but the store management got upset and shut down the high-energy gymnastics. It’s pretty ridiculous, and not MGK’s fault. We’re gonna have to echo the talking points of this write-up on Grantland: why would you invited MGK to your Microsoft store, and expect him not to be MGK? It doesn’t even look like he’s really turned his MGKness up to 11 here, just some table stompin’ at the cost of a few laptops. But again, why would you invite MGK and not expect something like this? That’s why you want MGK at your store, right?, so that the video evidence makes the internet rounds, eventually gets posted on a news blog in Ohio, finds some interested eyeballs, and the next time some Buckeye is orbiting through an Atlanta mall, they might actually check out said Microsoft store, no? Boom. Done. Cut that check.
MGK should probably just stay away from malls in general. Not his scene.
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2012.
UPDATE: No Electronics Were Harmed in the Filiming of this Video
Over the weekend, Machine Gun Kelly was set to perform at a Microsoft Store in Lenox Mall as a promotion for the Source and their annual Power 30 issue. Initial reports were that the police had shut down the performance, but Kelly has now released a statement saying his quick set was not shortened by the authorities.
Early reports said that MGK was jumping up on tables with valuable laptops and tablets on them and he was destructing property. In his statement he says that he did not “stomp” on any electronics, and that any police present were not brought in for him. Kelly says the main issue with the performance was where he should be performing exactly:
“Last Friday, I was asked to perform at The Source’s Power 30 reception and honored to do so. My only goal was to give a great performance. Contrary to what is being reported by the media, I did not stomp on any computers, damage any store property nor were the police called on my behalf. There was some confusion as to where I should perform. But, in the end, it was all resolved. I’d like to thank The Source for the opportunity and let the people at Microsoft know I meant no disrespect.”
Microsoft also issued a statement, saying MGK’s performance was not Microsoft sponsored, and they felt some things in his act were not appropriate for their store:
“On Sept. 28, The Source held a private event at the Microsoft Lenox Square Store. We offer our stores as a venue for the community to use, and this event was not sponsored by Microsoft. While the artist’s behavior was appropriate for a concert, some of it was not appropriate in a store environment.”
(I would provide a source link, but I can’t paste here. Try Google.)
Who the hell listens to this? Oh… people that hang out in South Park food courts and Microsoft stores? I guess that makes sense.
Glad to see MGK is still alive and well