Los Angeles authorities are investigating a swatting episode that unfolded during a weekend livestream hosted by DDG. The hoax, carried out on Sunday as he broadcast a paintball tournament, drew a swift, heavily armed police response—the latest example of a dangerous trend targeting public figures.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told AllHipHop that investigators are working to identify whoever placed the false 911 call. The caller claimed “a male adult was brandishing and firing a weapon, threatening to harm those nearby,” spurring deputies to rush to the location.
When officers arrived, DDG was still on camera. No one was physically harmed, but the disruption was jarring. DDG’s manager and attorney, Dimitri Hurt, told TMZ Hip Hop, “The anonymous caller fabricated a narrative suggesting that DDG was armed and posed a danger, resulting in an unnecessary and heavily armed police reaction at a peaceful paintball live streaming event. This irresponsible and malicious act disrupted the tournament, generated undue panic among attendees, and put everyone present—law enforcement included—at risk.”
The Escalating Swatting Problem
Hurt later emphasized the psychological toll. “The arrival of officers under the false assumption that you are armed is an intensely distressing and traumatic experience. While we are grateful that no one was physically injured, the emotional impact and disruption to the event atmosphere were significant.”
Swatting—the act of making a false emergency report to provoke a major police deployment—was once an obscure form of harassment. In recent years, it has increasingly been aimed at prominent figures, especially those with large online followings. Recent examples include allegations from Lauren Pisciotta, a former assistant to Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), who accused the rapper of orchestrating a swatting incident against her after she made misconduct claims. West’s representatives have firmly denied the accusation, calling it “absurd and outlandish.”
The DDG case underscores how quickly a false report can turn volatile, putting both the intended target and responding officers at risk. As the investigation moves forward, advocates are calling for stricter penalties and greater public awareness to curb a form of harassment that has grown alarmingly common.
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