Nicki Minaj's Backup Dancer Arrested As Suspect In Murder Case!

5/30/2012 3:50 PM ET | Filed under: Icky Icky Poo • Legal Matters • Sad Sad • Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj Backup Dancer

This is SO disturbing.

It’s been reported that one of Nicki Minaj’s backup dancers has been arrested on suspicion of rape AND murder!!!

Supposedly, Nicola Furlong, a 21-year-old Irish foreign exchange student, attended one of Nicki’s shows in Tokyo last Wednesday and was found dead the next morning.

Nicola and her friend Sarah Maher had gone back to backup dancer James Blackston and musician Larry Perry’s hotel rooms after the show, when things took a turn for the worst.

Nicola was reportedly found strangled to death in the hotel room and Sarah, who survived, reported that she was sexually assaulted by both of the men.

Both Larry and James are currently in custody, with details still emerging.

[Images via Facebook & WENN.]

Tags: arrested, assault, backup dancer, custody, dance, dancers, james blackston, murder, nicki minaj, nicola furlong, rape

Layla Rae says – reply to this

1

This is so sad. These girls are from my town. We're all still reeling from the news. We really cannot believe it. So many details aren't know yet but whatever did happen it had devastated our community.
Michmasterflex says – reply to this

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Re: Layla Rae – aww thats horrible
Zip says – reply to this

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Nicki Minaj is putting satanic influences and imagery into her routine, ala what she did on the Grammy broadcast, so is this any surprise? I would advise young women, as I always do, please vet the people whom you would choose to spend time with. I know that these men would appear vetted considering they were on a major tour, with a major star, but consider the source of who they work for. Evil is very real.
Arch_ie says – reply to this

4

I believe it is best practice in the media not to name victims of sexual assault. I can imagine it only makes things harder having the whole world know about it. Most reports on this have withheld the girl's name and I think it would be prudent of this website to do the same.
AJ says – reply to this

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Re: Zip – @ Zip - really? Ignorant much? Nicki’s performances are theatrical – same as any other major star. Don’t label this terrible incident back to a performer who had nothing, or no influence, over it.
emr says – reply to this

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Re: Arch_ie – Actually, both sets of parents and the surviving girl allowed their names to be used. This story has been in the news in Ireland for the past week in Ireland and if the families involved didn't want their names published they would've sought an injunction.
PrattElaine5 says – reply to this

7

my roomate's mom earned $19697 a month ago. she is getting paid on the internet and bought a $566000 condo. All she did was get blessed and put in action the guide leaked on this site..SpecialWork4.notlong.com
irish says – reply to this

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Well the facts of this story have not been brought to light!!
The 2 girls involved were completely innocent- missed their train, the two accused tried to lure them to hotel room offering them a room to themselves, they rejected their offer (the girls have boyfriends) and said they would go to a bar for a while. The accused followed, spiked their drinks, when the girls were comotose they bundled them into a taxi
irish says – reply to this

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and proceeded to sexually assault one girl. This is disgraceful- both girls were innocent and did not want to go with these guys let alone be raped and killed!!!
LoriC says – reply to this

10

Zip, evil IS very real. And Nicki Minaj isn't. LOL.
Suzie Murphy says – reply to this

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I am friends with people who are friends with these girls. It is so tradgic. I cannot believe these men (if you can even call them men) could do something like this to two innocent girls who had missed their train home. I hope they get charged and get what they deserve for taking Nicolas life and destroying Sarah's. They are scum. Niki minaj should be ashamed at her choice in back up dancers. Rip Nicola xxx
Mr Pete says – reply to this

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What are the laws in Japan like for murder, rape, assault ?
I have seen prisons where everything is spotless , white, clean
All the inmates well behaved, smiling, well I for one hope that is not where these two scum bags end up, hope they suffer, and suffer long and suffer hard
And I find Nicki at fault, for not vetting these dancers better

My heart goes out to the victims and their families, and it's so much harder for them being so far away
Mad Dog says – reply to this

13

Blacks being black.
PhilipPreston says – reply to this

14

this is awful news, girls have to learn to be smarter and more cautious, too many things are happening like this…
Zip says – reply to this

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Re: AJ – : Not when you have people like Rick Ross naming himself a Free Mason openly in his music and Jay-Z saying F–k Jesus. And there are images of Beyonce and Lady Gaga pushing satanic symbols, as well as Nicki Minaj. This stuff may be theatre to you, but it isn't to them. Ask yourself, how does someone who says F–k Jesus get close to a standing president and Warren Buffett? There are very powerful people in the word who have faith in Satan. You may not believe in it, but they do, and they practice what they preach, not just as theatre, but as reality.
Zip says – reply to this

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Re: Mad Dog – : Then who is the guy who killed Natalee Holloway? He's a White Dutchman. Evil comes in all colors.
Zip says – reply to this

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Re: Layla Rae – : Nicki will be sued, as these are her employees representing her tour. Please tell the families to also sue Young Money Records (Lil Wayne) who she works for.
niamh says – reply to this

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Your right this is so awful these men (if you can call them that) should get the full extent of the law. And I find it really upsetting to think Nicki Minaj has not even made a statement about this although it's not her fault she should have sent her condolences to family, the whole thing it just disgusting. Rip Nicola xx
DrB3 says – reply to this

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Re: emr –

What do you mean this story has been in the papers for the past week? Didn't this happen Thursday morning, very early? That's less than 24 hours ago. Or am I off by a week?

NO, her S.M.'s family could not have stopped the publication of her name internationally by an injunction. REALLY? You think it's that easy to keep your name out of a foreign paper? Not here baby.
DrB3 says – reply to this

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Re: Mr Pete –

I was just looking at this. They do have the death penalty, but it is reserved for particularly heinous murders. Interestingly, I read that they only just started using juries, and allowing defendants to question witnesses a few year ago! However sentences are similar to ours, with manslaughter receiving about a decade.
Osct21 says – reply to this

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First off, once again Perez get your facts straight! He was not part of Nicki Minaj's dancers and had no connection to her whatsoever! It's tragic to hear about this tragedy :/ but dont go start posting wrong information
Osct21 says – reply to this

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Re: Zip – First off he wasn't one of Nicki Minaj dancers and had no affiliation whatsoever to her team. He's been a dancer for other artists though and was residing in tokyo, i hope he gets what he deserved and its such a tragedy to hear about this poor girl.
ShinShin says – reply to this

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Names were released only through Japanese sources and then Irish tabloids. It is unusual to name victims of sexual assault and the big Irish papers still haven't published the name of Nicola's friend as it is bad practice. Remember this girl still has a life to live.
Sean says – reply to this

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Re: Zip –
What are you a retard? There is no such thing as Satan!?!?! Yeah these guys are evil arseholes but for f sake…keep the bible out it! We've only just got rid of that bollocks in Ireland!
ChloeIreland says – reply to this

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This is not the first time these guys have done this unfortunately this time it has turned out terrible wrong for them according to Japanese police this is a occurring problem that R&B and hip hip artists ply young women with high alcoholic drinks and take advantage of them while they are unable to resist sexual assault it has been said by Nicola Furlongs parents that she was hoping to get invited to the after party to meet Niki Minaj this concert was only attended by 2000 people James kingtight blackston has supposedly performed in her massive attack video he is also married t Tatiana why wil niki minaj not comment on this horrible crime or why has her camp not released a statement she is due to compete perform in Ireland in the summer we could do without this trashy performer I think she should rethink her trip to Ireland or is money more important than the lives of her fans
Oliver says – reply to this

26

They have the death penalty in Japan for murder although they don't use it often. Somebody asked.
mikuraj says – reply to this

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Re: ChloeIreland – First off, the whole thing of focusing on a genre of music is just dumb i have friends in Osaka and in Tokyo and these accidents happen to many foreigners whether it has to deal with that music or not. Also there was no after parties and Nicki Minaj din't even know the dancer or was part of her dance crew at all! And by the way to let you know Nicki has spoken about this she is saddened by it and has payed her condolences to the family.
Intellipenny says – reply to this

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Re: Suzie Murphy – I was totally with you until you said Nicki Minaj should be ashamed of herself for her choice of back up dancers… that's not fair at all!!! Is she supposed to be able to look at these people and know if they are capable of murder? No, of course not. If we were capable of seeing this "trait" in people, then I would guess no one would be getting killed - we would know who to stay away from.
Intellipenny says – reply to this

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Re: Zip – omg… that's ridiculous. I don't like her music, or her nasty Grammy's performance. But come on!! To say that her show should give people the impression that she and her backup dancers are EVIL? Wow. That's ridiculous. This type of evil (done to these girls) has nothing to do with Nicki Manaj or her music. It's all about the evil of the guys who did it (allegedly, at this point).
Intellipenny says – reply to this

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Re: Mr Pete – So…. any employer who hires a future murderer should be held responsible for their employees bad deeds? How does that make any sense??? Nicki Manaj is not a magical fortune teller - she's not supposed to be able to see that this guy is going to kill someone. Are you serious???
amanda says – reply to this

31

nicki minaj just tweeted that this is NOT her backup dancer and that she does not know who it is. this is Misleading information!
FitznBItz says – reply to this

32

The two girls names were released here in Ireland. The American suspects are James Blackston and a 19-year-old backing musician so under Japanese law he is a minor so should not be named. Nicki Minaj says they do not know those males
Deborah BossBarb says – reply to this

33

This dancer was NOT a part of Nicki's entourage. Shame on you Perez for posting incorrect, misleading information. This is defamation of character and mindless gossip.
Andrea says – reply to this

34

This article is complete bullshit. Nicki's dancers were not involved in this terrible tragedy. Perez you should be ashamed publishing such lies about such a sensitive ,raw case. My heart goes out to the family & friends of Nicola & I hope those involved in her death are brought to justice. RIP Nicola Furlong <3
IrishGirl91 says – reply to this

35

Nicola is 19, not 21
Disgusted Irish says – reply to this

36

I don't know what code of ethics you adhere to but it is an absolute disgrace that you name the other victim involved in this case. This article is written in a disgustingly blasé and insincere manner, not to mention the blatant deviation from fact. In your next related piece you seem to show more sympathy for implicating Nikki Minaj than for the victims of these heinous crimes.
GEAILGE says – reply to this

37

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis
loveislife says – reply to this

38

James Blackston is my brother and he is completely innocent i live in los Angeles were he is from and those story is false completely the other guy that killed the girl that is not Larry he has been in la since may 1 i just hope that they get this story striaght so my brother can come home
anonymous says – reply to this

39

This dude is a back up dancer for Japanese female R&B star AI who is currently in the middle of the tour called 2012 AI INDEPENDENT.
The 19Y boy is also one of musicians of her band.
Charo says – reply to this

40

This is a terrible tragedy. Nicki is claiming that Perez has his facts wrong and that all of her backup dancers flew home after Tokyo. Yet, I've seen statements issued from law officials saying that James Blackston is being held on suspicion. Looks like Nicki is the one who has her facts wrong. RIP beautiful girl!
Rain says – reply to this

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You all can believe this bs site if you want. I not even an fan of her. Anyways God bless the girl and her family.
hhhhh says – reply to this

42

I MEAN THEY WORK FOR ICKI MINAJ……WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?