Verizon Drops Akon Sponsorship

Verizon has decided to drop all sponsorship of Akon after a raunchy video of the rapper recently circulated online.

Akon was performing in Trinidad when he did an onstage, adult-flavored dance with an audience member, who turned out to be a 15-year-old allowed into the 18-and-over show by club security – presumably without Akon’s knowledge.

No matter: a politically charged climate likely helped motivate the telco to pull tour sponsorship on the Gwen Stefani tour (Akon is in support).

The move is sending a chill through artists, agents and managers, according to the New York Times. Verizon is expected to pay out on the cash portion of the estimated $2 million sponsorship but stopped its advertising and other promotion of the tour.

Akon apologized to the girl, her family and the Trinidad community in a statement.