Rick Ross is out of jail — and the rapper wasted little time returning to his larger-than-life persona.
Ross was released from a Miami-area jail Thursday after being arrested on felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges stemming from allegations involving his former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick.
Ross has denied wrongdoing and told reporters after his release that he is “totally innocent.”
The allegations remain unresolved, and the criminal case is still pending.
According to the supplied reports, Kendrick contacted police Tuesday before Ross surrendered two days later. The circumstances behind the allegations remain part of the ongoing case.
But Ross was already looking beyond the courtroom when he walked out of custody.
The rapper told reporters he planned to fly to Dubai on Friday, head to Paris on Saturday, and spend Sunday enjoying rigatoni with “heavy marinara.”
It is an unusually specific itinerary for someone fresh out of jail — but very much in keeping with Ross’ public persona.
Ross also said he intended to get back to work, with plans to return to the recording studio. He reportedly instructed his team to have the facility ready for him.
During his court appearance, Ross’ attorney asked for his release to be expedited, citing his celebrity status and concerns about his safety while detained.
Judge Mindy Glazer rejected the suggestion that Ross should receive special treatment because of his fame.
“I have no idea who you are,” Glazer told Ross during the hearing.
Ross later addressed the situation on Instagram while promoting his music, where he continued leaning into his larger-than-life image. He wrote that he was “bigger than Justin Bieber” and predicted news helicopters would soon circle his mansion once the weather cleared.
He also compared the media attention surrounding his arrest to the intense coverage that followed O.J. Simpson.
Meanwhile, Kendrick has publicly accused Ross of physical abuse, although it has not been established from the supplied material whether those allegations directly correspond to the charges he currently faces.
Ross’ release does not resolve the case. He remains subject to the pending criminal proceedings while the allegations are addressed through the legal process.
For now, though, Ross appears focused on getting back to music, international travel — and making sure that Sunday’s rigatoni comes with plenty of marinara.
