R&B singer Mark Morrison was arrested in Florida after he allegedly shoved a restaurant manager during a heated exchange, according to reports.
An altercation involving the ’90s one-hit wonder happened Saturday at the Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach after Morrison allegedly “stormed into” the restaurant and started arguing with the manager over an incident the night prior, according to a police report obtained by TMZ.
Morrison, 50, “started yelling and cursing at the venue’s general manager” over an event he “started planning with the venue on Friday,” cops said in the report.
At one point during the confrontation, witnesses told police they saw the “Return of the Mack” singer allegedly shove the manager, who did not fight back after being pushed.
A witness quickly stepped in and separated the men before things escalated further, police said. Morrison then left the venue.
The recording artist was arrested by police and charged with simple battery following the altercation, TMZ reported.
A photo obtained by the outlet shows Morrison, donning a black shirt, tan shorts, and yellow shoes, being placed in cuffs by arresting officers before he was detained overnight.
The “Moan and Groan” singer posted a $1,000 bond and was released Sunday morning.
The restaurant’s nightlife manager, Fabrizio Riillo, told the Palm Beach Daily News Morrison brought another singer to the popular spot on Friday for an event he planned.
Morrison repeatedly told the singer’s crew to turn up the volume, but when it got too loud, the restaurant’s general manager, Nicola Lavacca, told the R&B star to turn it down, Riillo claimed.
“Mark Morrison came back on Saturday night looking for a fight,” Riillo told the outlet.
Morrison’s attorney, Rick King, told TMZ that the incident between his client and the manager “arose in the context of a racially charged confrontation.”
“It is important to acknowledge that this altercation between Mr. Morrison and the male employee of the Le Bar à Vin, Nicola Lavacca, arose in the context of a racially charged confrontation,” King said.
“At this time, Mr. Morrison and legal counsel are working diligently to ensure that the facts of the case are fully understood and appropriately addressed.”
King said that the singer is cooperating with authorities and that he is confident that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation.
The attorney asked the public not to rush to conclusions or judge Morrison until all the facts have been laid out and presented.
Morrison is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on April 15 at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.
Morrison is known for the 1990s songs “Crazy,” “Let’s Get Down,” and “Return of the Mack.”
“Return of the Mack” was ranked number 318 in Billboard’s 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time in 2023 and reached 500 million streams on Spotify in January.
Morrison was born in Germany and lived in Leicester, England, until he moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, at age 11.
The R&B singer has had multiple run-ins with the law in the past.
He was convicted for attempting to bring a firearm aboard an airliner and served three months in jail in 1997.
“Return of the Mack” hit number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 that same year.
In 1998, Morrison was in Barbados when he was supposed to appear in court for charges related to possessing an offensive weapon.
When he returned to the UK, he was arrested but was later cleared of the charges.
However, later that year, the singer was sentenced to a year in jail after he hired a lookalike to do his court-ordered community service following his conviction for his involvement in a brawl that ended with one person killed, The Independent reported at the time.
