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Written by: A. Smith
Published November 12, 2025 @ 2:15 PM ET
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – Grammy-nominated singer Akon, 52, was arrested last week in DeKalb County, Georgia, after authorities discovered he was driving with a suspended license. The Chamblee Police Department took the musician, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, into custody on the morning of November 7 and released him roughly six hours later.
The arrest stems from a warrant issued two months earlier in Roswell, Georgia. The warrant traces back to an incident in September when police responded to Akon’s Tesla Cybertruck stranded on the side of the road due to a dead battery. While the vehicle was being towed, officers discovered that Akon’s driver’s license had been suspended because he failed to appear in court in January 2023.
During the stop, officers also confiscated an illegal vape found in the car’s center console. Authorities have not released any additional details regarding the warrant or potential court dates.
Akon rose to prominence in the early 2000s with his breakout hit “Locked Up” and has since released songs such as “Lonely,” “I Wanna Love You,” and “Smack That.” In addition to his music career, he has spent recent years focused on charitable and philanthropic efforts, while continuing to release new music.
At the time of his arrest, Akon was on tour in India. He has not publicly addressed the incident but has continued posting on social media.