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Iconic hip-hop star T.I. managed to coax a suicidal man off the ledge of a 22-story downtown Atlanta building Wednesday afternoon. Now that the waters have calmed, tongues are wagging about whether the entire suicide attempt was just a sick hoax to gain brownie points for T.I.'s upcoming drug possession trial.
A man made his way up to the roof of the 22-story Colony Square skyscraper on Peachtree Street at around 4 p.m. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, offered to help after hearing about the tense situation on a local radio station. He was on his way to a video shoot and decided to lend a hand by driving directly to the scene.
"Something in me just said, Man you gotta try and help. You gotta do whatever you can, " the Grammy Award-winning rapper told WSB-TV.
Atlanta policeman James Polite told CNN that T.I. just came on the scene and "appeared out of nowhere." He offered to speak with the man about how "a person can make it through anything." An officer taped a quick video message, which was then sent to the man on the roof. Upon listening to T.I., the man, who appeared to be around 25 years of age, came down off the ledge.
Reportedly, once the man was on solid ground, T.I. spoke with him for a few moments before he was escorted to nearby Grady Memorial Hospital for observation.
Now T.I., who is knee deep in trouble for drug charges stemming from a September arrest and facing 5 to 14 months behind bars if a judge finds him guilty of violating his supervised probation, finds himself in another bit of controversy:
Was the suicide attempt just a publicity stunt to gain favor for his upcoming court case? Critics believe that the perfectly timed hoax was planned.
T.I., who is disturbed by those who doubt his noble actions, issued a statement Thursday in his defense:
"I'm aware some people are saying this was a publicity stunt. That's preposterous. People refuse to acknowledge that God has a purpose for all people. Fate and destiny, all these things, they put us where we're supposed to be. This was not a coincidence. I didn't wake up in the morning knowing this was going to happen. This wasn't on my list of things to do today."
Publicity stunt or not, Friday is "D" day for the famed suicide negotiator.
Comments: (24)
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By: jjjess10 on 10/15/2010 10:24AM
Did anyone notice that he contradicts himself in his statement? Something is a coinicidence if you don't know that it's going to happen...But he says it's not a coincidence. I hate when people try to use big words...
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By: Dee on 10/16/2010 3:39PM
His use of the word "coincidence" tells me nothing. T.I. and many rappers, excluding guys like Common, often use words in the wrong context. I'm not reading anything into that statement. Just hope this wasn't a stunt.
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By: jjjess10 on 10/18/2010 9:40AM
I don't know Dee...There's word that one of the officers on the scene made a statement on his behalf in court last week...How convenient, if he wasn't using this incident to his advantage.
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By: Jimbob on 11/10/2010 6:07PM
" T.I. and many rappers, excluding guys like Common, often use words in the wrong context.
Please, Tell me why they do that.
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By: CeCe on 10/15/2010 11:36AM
I choose to think the best of someone in situations like this. We all know he's facing a drug charge, but that doesn't mean that the man can't still do good things in his life. We ALL MESS UP, but most of us still have a good side. T.I. messed up, but I don't believe he's a bad person, and I choose to believe he would do something good like save someone's life. Get off the man's back. He has enough to deal with.
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By: BG on 10/15/2010 2:11PM
WE ALL DON'T MESS UP.
I have never been pulled up by the police for speeding. I am always mindful of the posted speed limits.
I am not going to be legally drunk, and then jump behind the wheels only to be driving on the wrong side of the road.
If my driver's licence is suspended or revoked, I will not risk getting behind the wheels and drive anyway.
I will not put a 'Tag Applied For' paper sign on a car that I know was stolen and start driving around town.
When my credit score took a slip. I took a remedial action by not repeating the same stupid mistakes that led to the slip in the first place so that I don't end up like Toni Braxton.
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By: H8tinH8ters on 10/16/2010 8:21AM
BG Honey if "WE ALL DON"T MESS UP" what caused YOUR credit report to "take a slip"? Why did you have to take "remedial action" if you DIDN"T mess up? I'm confused???
Just because YOUR mess up wasn't the EXACT same as someone elses, that doesn't mean it's NOT A MESS UP!
PS: Mine was multiple speeding tickets :>)
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By: David on 10/16/2010 9:54AM
@ BG
I disagree, EVERYBODY messes up, makes mistakes whatever you want to call it. No one is perfect in life. But what TI is doing is seriously breaking the law. He violated his probation after serving seven months in a Arkansas federal prison for buying unregistered machine guns and silencers. That's more than a mistake or messing up that's some serious sh*t. And he already had a criminal record before that!
I agree that everyone deserves a second chance but TI has had dozens of second chances. Unfortunately there are far too many young black brothers out there who love living the thug lifestyle. But part of that lifestyle is usually going to prison at some point or worst death. So I don't feel sorry for this brother, TI made his bed now he has to lie in it.
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By: Robert on 10/15/2010 4:20PM
TI: Yo Homey here's $10,000 go to the roof at 3:00 pm and I'll talk you down.
Homey: Yeah, yeah TIP you know I'm down fo' whatevs! Now where that paper?
TI: Hold on Homey how I know you gonna convince the public I'm a hero?
Homey: I am a trained thespian.
TI: Whoa! You gay? No homo yo.
Homey: Nah man, that means I got actin' skillz.
TI: Aight' den check you round 3:00.
Homey: Make sure you bring the money and Zantac; heights give me heart burn, yo.
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By: etcetcetera on 10/16/2010 1:30PM
Exactly! LMAO!!!!
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