So far it seems that Meek Mill is enjoying his newfound freedom. Just two hours after being officially released from prison as he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions, the rapper attended Game 5 of the 76ers playoff series against the Miami Heat with his son.
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The rapper, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was not the only one celebrating his release, which comes after a five-month campaign by his supporters to get him out on bail as he awaits his appeals, the Associated Press notes. Mill was sentenced back in November to two to four years behind bars for probation violations.
“I feel great,” Mill said before entering the Wells Fargo Center. He then went to greet players in the locker room before the game.
A regular at the Sixers games before his incarceration, Mill received a rowdy ovation from the crowd in the Wells Fargo Center as he was introduced and seated courtside next to team co-owner Michael Rubin and comedian Kevin Hart, ESPN reports.
He even rang the ceremonial Liberty Bell before the tipoff of the game. To make his release even sweeter? The Sixers snagged the series-clinching game with a 104-91 win.
“It was like this mass happiness, hysteria,” Rubin said after the team’s victory, according to ESPN. “The city’s so excited to have him. The team’s so excited.”
As ESPN notes, Rubin was one of the rapper’s staunchest advocates, even picking him up from prison and whisking him away to the game.
Apparently, Mill’s release was a big show, involving a helicopter, which is something the co-owner said that Mill often dreamed about.
“You know, Meek told me every day we talked, ‘I just dream about the heli picking me up,’” Rubin said. “He said, ‘That’s what I want.’ So when they released him, we said the helicopter’s gonna pick you up.”
The rapper took to Twitter to thank all of his supporters who have stuck with him through the difficult months, which he described as “a nightmare.”
“I’d like to thank God, my family and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive,” he tweeted. “To the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury, and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.
“In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career,” he added.
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