Jake Paul Says He Wasn't Looting During Black Lives Matter Protests in Arizona

From Seventeen

Jake Paul says that he and his friends weren't looting after being spotted at an Arizona mall where several people were breaking into stores and stealing items.

Someone from his group was live streaming the group as they walked through the mall on May 30. Along with someone who was holding a professional camera, likely recording things for Jake's YouTube page, Jake and his friends were interacting with other people who were also there and seemingly taking part in some of the damage that was being done.

In one video, it looks like someone in his friend group went inside a P.F. Changs and came out with a bottle of vodka to share with the others. In another, a friend yells out, "Get me a free cologne," as they show other people walking into a Sephora.

Jake and his crew were also seen laughing at a lot of the incidents that were happening.

Jake was also seen standing with some people were shooting fireworks at the mall.

A lot of people on social media called him out, especially due to the fact that he has a net worth of $19 million. He later released a statement the next day, saying that no one he was with were involved in any of the incidents.

"To be absolutely clear, neither I nor anyone in our group was engaged in any looting or vandalism. For context, we spent the day doing our part to peacefully protest one of the most horrific injustices our country has ever seen, which led to us being tear-gassed for filming the events and brutality that were unfolding in Arizona," he wrote.

"We were gassed and forced to keep moving on foot. We filmed everything we saw in an effort to share our experience and bring more attention to the anger felt in every neighborhood we traveled through; we were strictly documenting, not engaging," he continued. "I don't condone violence, looting, or breaking the law; however, I understand the anger and frustration that led to the destruction we witnessed and while it's not the answer, it's important that people see it and collectively figure out how to move forward in a healthy way. We are all doing the best we can to be helpful and raise awareness; this is not the time to attack each other, it's time to join together and evolve."

Jake has stayed quiet since putting out the statement and hasn't shared any videos on his vlog.

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