I don’t have much to say about this story other than it reinforces the idea, in my mind, that Swizz Beatz is one shady piece of work. Swizz has been married to Alicia Keys since July 2010, and the marriage has been bookended by scandals. Before they even got hitched, Swizz was called out as a deadbeat father, a cheater and a liar. After everything became official, Swizz has dealt with tax problems, plus even more reports that he was screwing around on Alicia. And now this scandal – Swizz is going to be questioned by the FBI for his role in a file-sharing website called Megaupload. It’s not as sexy as a cheating scandal, but it’s still pretty sketchy:
Alicia Keys’ husband, Swizz Beatz, was tangled in crisis meetings with his legal team on Friday as the music producer faces possible questioning by the FBI. Beatz is CEO of Megaupload, a file-sharing Web site shuttered by the feds Thursday over Internet piracy claims.
Four of the site’s top executives were arrested, but Beatz was not named in the 72-page indictment filed Thursday by the Justice Department. Sources tell us Beatz believes he may be questioned by the FBI and is considering hiring a criminal defense lawyer. If convicted, the arrested executives could face up to 50 years in prison for the largest copyright case in history.
Beatz “expects to be questioned by the FBI,” a source close to his camp told us. “He’s the CEO of the site.”
When Page Six first revealed last week that Beatz was CEO of the Hong Kong-based file-sharing site, Megaupload lawyer Ira Rothken didn’t dispute Beatz’s position in the organization and acknowledged that Beatz persuaded Kanye West, Will.i.am and Sean “Diddy” Combs to participate in a promotional video for the site.
Rothken changed his tune Friday, telling the blog Venturebeat that “[Beatz] was negotiating to become the CEO, but it was never official.” Rothken didn’t get back to us to explain his altered view. Sources tell us Beatz has been CEO of the company for close to a year.
“Swizz is satisfied that he isn’t being investigated for any wrongdoing because had this been the case, they would have picked him up at the same time as the others,” a source said. “Swizz had no idea this was coming. He is very much in the dark about this investigation.”
Meanwhile, Keys’ camp is not commenting about the Web site, which she endorsed with a video testimonial.
A source added, “This appears to be a situation where Swizz agreed to be the CEO of Megaupload without first doing his due diligence about the company.”
Both Beatz’s lawyer and a rep for Keys declined to comment.
[From Page Six]
Innocent until proven shady? Or Always and Forever Shady? While I could have been convinced of the idea that Swizz had no idea what was going on with the website in general, the back and forth and contradictions about Swizz’s role in the company seems like some kind of cover-up, right? And why are we supposed to believe that Swizz isn’t involved in the company if his wife and his friends all gave testimonials on behalf of the company?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Always and forever shady.
Does anyone else find it susicious that, after the massive mobilisation that prevented SOPA and PIPA from being passed, all of a sudden the American government has decided to “act” upon Megaupload? Maybe I am a bit of a paranoid conspiration theorist, but it seems to be a coup d’effet to remind activists that they have other ways to control the net.
While I do not condone in any way piracy (getting songs and watching films legally isn’t really expensive), the excuses that corporations and the governments that represent them, want to use to weed out competition and charge whatever they want for substandard products, seem to be well, precisely that, shady.
With that said, I think that we should wait to see what role AK’s husband had in the organisation before we judge him… Especially when maybe the police should question him first for having a criminal taste in pseudonyms. “Swizz Beatz”, seriously?
ITA, except for illegal downloading. I believe in the try before you buy method when it comes to giving hollywood/riaa my money. Artists I support automatically get their stuff purchased and concert tickets are bought. But someone like Katy Perry whose music is tepid with a few goodies, whatever.
Until they stop scamming and brainwashing our youth and putting out more quality than quantity, I’ll reconsider my opinion.
I’m a suspicious old cynic, but I do actually think the timing is mostly coincidental (albeit perhaps not entirely). Popehat has a good summary of the reasons why: http://www.popehat.com/2012/01/20/a-few-notes-by-a-federal-criminal-practitioner-on-the-megaupload-indictment/
Yeah – seriously sketchy! However, the one positive aspect about the furor SOPA and PIPA has caused is that it’s very politically unifying and brings to light the effect of increasing governmental control – hopefully with side effects to other aspects of governmental regulation.
On a side note, if anyone’s used the free Spanish-language movie website Cuevana, they used to use Megaupload for viewing. Last month they began using a different company, Wupload. Cuevana is a site that has the potential to be hit hard by these restrictions along with many others. Seems that all these guys are starting to struggle more to keep ahead of the legislation.
Ha ha! Maybe she’ll end up visiting him in prison like in that stupid video. (I’ve always found that video patronizing, and dumb in its message – it’s really not romantic to have a boyfriend in prison, and dire poverty is not romantic, either.)
Agree. If Swiss Cheese really gets investigated and heavily fined and/or goes to prison Alicia will divorce him like a hot potato. She won’t be visiting him in jail. Not cute or poetic in real life. If she has any self-respect she’d surely be questioning why she’s with him. Dude will drag her down.
That face of his just screams SHADY.
he’s such a loser. i used to think “what the hell is she thinking?”, but she must be into it.
He looks like he was beaten with an ugly stick.
Ew. I have seen him referred to as “Swizz Beakz” because of his bad nose. And why would Alicia ever get involved with an ugly, cheating, deadbeat dad???
I’m so disappointed in Alicia. I always thought she’d marry someone “better”. She always had good, meaningful music that she wrote herself, she wasn’t half-naked and writhing on stage like all the other women at her age and level of fame (Beyonce, Britney, Shakira, Christina). She seemed so normal and then she goes and marry this shady dude. No words.
ITA!!
I’ve never found her more popular songs very meaningful, rather, they seem to be mostly the same old romantic crap. That one about not needing anything but love is an eye-roller in particular.
Lol! I mean her recent songs have been bland and she’s been trying to keep up which is a mistake in her case. She stood out, that was her appeal. “Songs in a Minor” and Alicia with cornrows was amazing!
Karma!!!!!
With all the things he did to his ex-wife those were warning bells for Alicia. Still she went ahead got herself pregnant and married to this ugly dude.
Dude is patently underattractive. He looks like a muppet, and not in an endearing sort of way.
He is very unattractive, physically and with all his baggage and behavior too.
It surprises me that a recording artist would support a file sharing website.
His coat in the first pic is as ugly as he is
I cannot for the life of me understand what she sees in him!! Dude is nothing but a big bag of ick…
A big bag of something, at least. Boyfriend looks like Squidward Tentacles, so I doubt it’s about the ‘looking’.
When he and Alicia were first an item, and then married, I really thought, why was she settling for this guy? Who knows, but she apparently fell for him big time, and I doubt her feelings will change overnight. I know very little about Alicia, except for her singing, so picking him makes me wonder a little about her character and her choice of partners. Before Alicia, I don’t think he had a particularly good reputation. He got the better deal out of this marriage since she probably had most of the money. Perhaps she married due to pregnancy, or did marriage come first? Either way, bad choice for a husband.
I think she would be better off with a woman.