Emily Brown
British rapper Ghetts has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after he was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run incident that later led to the death of a 20-year-old man.
The musician and actor, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, appeared at Stratford Magistrates' Court in London, England, on Monday (October 20), following the crash which took place in Redbridge Lane East, Ilford, on October 18.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, in which Clarke-Samuel has been accused of failing to stop after striking the man.
The victim of the collision was taken to hospital after being hit, where he remained until he died on Monday - the same day Clarke-Samuel appeared in court.
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In the wake of the man's death, the indictment against Clarke-Samuel is expected to change from causing serious injury to causing death by dangerous driving.
The change is expected to take place at the next hearing, with the actor remanded into custody and next set to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on October 27.
Clarke-Samuel has not yet spoken publicly on the incident, but it comes in the midst of his successful music career, which has seen him nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2024, as well as winning awards for the Best Male Act at the Mobo Awards in 2021, and the Mobo Pioneer Award in 2024 for his contribution to British black culture.
Alongside his musical career, Clarke-Samuel also landed himself a role in Netflix's hit show Supacell, which viewers found so addicting that they were watching the entire thing in one night.
The series follows a group of black British people who suddenly develop superpowers.
Commenting on his stint on the small screen, the rapper told NME: “It feels good to have success in another area where the door was probably opened by music."
As for whether he may continue acting, he added: “God willing, man. It’s something that I enjoy and it’s something I want to do further.”
Speaking more broadly about his approach to his career, Clarke-Samuel told the publisher: "I just create music, man – for the love, for the art.
"I love music, I love listening to it, I love creating it. The story with this [2024 album] is about a man finding purpose. The last one [2021’s ‘Conflict Of Interest‘] was about a very conflicted human being, which I still am, but in that conflict we still must find purpose as humans.
“It’s not our purpose to make money, pay bills and die. That’s where I was at. OK, you can make money – you can make a lot of money and live a lavish life – but what are you doing? It might be someone’s purpose just to love. It might be someone’s purpose to connect the dots. It’s something that feels more fulfilling than what we do day-to-day.”
UNILAD has reached out to representatives for Ghetts for comment.