A Georgia soul singer is facing a criminal charge after a woman accused him of slapping her from the stage during a concert, allegedly leaving her with two black eyes and damaged dental work.
Sky Whatley has been charged with simple battery in connection with the Sept. 6 confrontation at the Legendary Awards Show & Concert at Londzell Performing Arts Theatre in Tucker, Georgia, according to Atlanta-area media reports.
An arrest warrant was issued for Whatley, but as of Friday he had not been taken into custody, 11Alive reported.
The incident was captured on cellphone video and quickly spread across social media.
Shamika Boyd said she attended the event to support her daughter, Jada Boyd, who was performing a DJ set that night.
Video from the show appears to show Whatley reaching down from the stage toward Boyd before striking her across the face.
Boyd has maintained that she did nothing to provoke the singer.
“When he hit me, I was devastated because I’m thinking, ‘Why did he hit me? He had no reason to hit me,’” Boyd told 11Alive in September.
Boyd said the force of the alleged blow left her with two black eyes and caused composite material on one of her teeth to come loose.
She also claimed Whatley made an obscene gesture toward her and cursed at her after the confrontation.
Boyd reported the incident to police following the concert, but the case did not lead to a warrant until weeks later.
Her attorney, Shannin Render, has publicly criticized the length of time it took authorities to move forward.
Render said she was frustrated that Whatley had apparently not been immediately arrested despite an active warrant.
Boyd and her legal team are also considering a civil case seeking compensation for medical expenses, transportation costs and any income she may have lost while recovering.
The alleged encounter had already attracted scrutiny before the criminal charge was announced. Earlier local reporting confirmed that Boyd had filed a police report and that her attorneys were examining potential civil claims stemming from the incident.
Under Georgia law, a person can commit simple battery by intentionally making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature or by intentionally causing physical harm to another person. The offense is generally treated as a misdemeanor, although certain circumstances can result in enhanced penalties.
The existence of an arrest warrant does not establish guilt, and Whatley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
It was not immediately clear when Whatley would surrender or be taken into custody, and publicly available reporting did not indicate that he had entered a plea.
The criminal case could now move toward an initial court appearance once Whatley is arrested or turns himself in. Boyd’s potential civil case would be separate from the criminal proceedings and could seek monetary damages regardless of how the criminal case ultimately ends.
