Inside Meek Mill’s first night of freedom
Meek Mill’s first night of freedom after being dramatically released on bail was “straight-up like something out of a movie,” close friends said, and such a whirlwind that the rapper said he was “afraid I was going to wake up and it was all a dream.”
The rapper, who had been jailed for two to four years for a minor parole violation but was granted bail by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday as he waits to have his conviction overturned, went straight from jail by helicopter to a Philadelphia 76ers game, was reunited with his 6-year-old son and was congratulated by stars including Jay-Z and Kevin Hart.
One friend who was with Meek on Tuesday said, “He flew right from jail to the 76ers game, as he walked in the stadium he was still in his prison clothes. It was straight-up like something out of a movie. He took a shower in the locker room, his personal barber showed up to give him a shave and someone arrived with some brand new clothes.”
Meek was taken to the game by 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, who flew him into Philly in his private helicopter and then insisted Meek ring the bell before the big game.
The friend continued, “It was like a whirlwind. He’d literally been out of prison for an hour. People were flooding into the locker room to congratulate Meek, including the entire Villanova basketball team, and Meek told them they had been such an inspiration to him as he watched their games while inside. Then Kevin Hart, who is old friends with Meek, came in and it was pandemonium. They were hugging and joking around.
“Meek also talked to Jay-Z by phone last night a few times, he said that Jay was thankful that he was out, and they also talked about how there’s a lot more work to be done to help other innocent people trapped by the criminal justice system.”
The highlight for Meek — who had served five months before he was released on bail — was being reunited with his 6-year-old son Papi, who arrived with his mom just before the game, the friend said. “Meek said one of the greatest moments of his life was when his son got there and they were reunited. It was very emotional.”
Meek had earlier told Page Six from jail that he had barely seen his son while in jail, because he didn’t want Papi to see him there, and he feared his son would struggle because he couldn’t be a father to him while inside.
The friend continued, “Then there was an announcement at the arena welcoming Meek home, and the entire place went wild, he rang the bell and the game tipped off.
“At halftime Meek went into the owners’ lounge with his son and Michael and there was a lot of love. Meek was taking pictures with every single person who asked him, he was hugging people he’d never met before.”
Following the game, Meek and a small group headed to the Philly restaurant Buddakan, which had stayed open late so he could have his first supper. Meek dined on sea bass and a host of other food sent to him by the chef. He left the restaurant at around 2 a.m., but that wasn’t the end of the night, we’re told.
The friend added, “Meek didn’t sleep last night, there was so much emotion. He went home, but he was just so emotional and it was so surreal, he told me, ‘I laid down and closed my eyes and I was afraid I was going to wake up and it was all a dream.’”
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