An alleged onstage slap has placed Southern soul singer Sky Whatley at the center of a police investigation and a potential lawsuit. Shamika Boyd claims Whatley struck her during a performance outside Atlanta, leaving her with two black eyes. She has since filed a police report and hired the Render Law Firm, whose attorneys say they plan to take the matter to civil court.
According to Atlanta Black Star, the incident took place at the Legendary Awards Show at the Londzell Performing Arts Theatre in Tucker, Georgia, where Boyd had attended to support her daughter, DJ Jada Boyd.
Footage from the event appears to show Whatley reaching down from the stage toward Boyd before striking her on the head. “When he hit me, I was devastated because I’m thinking, ‘Why? Why did he hit me?’” Boyd said. “He had no reason to hit me.”
Boyd said she initially believed Whatley was reaching down to give her a high-five or bring her onto the stage. Instead, she said she was struck in the face before the performer began hurling insults at her. “I did nothing to him. He was in no harm, no threat or anything,” she said.
According to Boyd, Whatley then flipped her off and told her, “Fck you, btch. This is for the real men,” before asking the music to be restarted and continuing with his performance.
The incident quickly spread across social media after the first clip surfaced, though longer footage later provided additional context about what happened leading up to the alleged strike.
Boyd was seen dancing near the stage while Whatley performed “Waffle House at 2 AM.” During “Auntie Love,” she put one leg on the stage and continued dancing as she recorded the performance.
Someone who appeared to be associated with the venue or performer then waved a towel toward her, instructed her to get down, and attempted to guide her away from the stage.
Jada, meanwhile, said she wasn’t aware that her mother had been struck until afterward. “I wouldn’t let anybody’s mom go through something like that, especially when they’re just supporting their kid,” she said.
Boyd, however, has urged supporters not to let their anger turn into online harassment. “It hurts my heart to see all the bashing, the hate,” she wrote on Facebook. “It was not ok what happened…at all.”
Whatley is an independent singer, songwriter, and producer from Georgia whose music combines elements of Southern soul and blues. He has named Prince, Sly Stone, and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler among his musical influences and has previously worked on projects with Goodie Mob.
