Aussie rapper Chillinit is dramatically arrested outside an RSL just minutes before his show - as he issues grovelling apology to fans: 'Fighting demons'
An ARIA Award-winning rapper has been arrested less than half an hour before he was due to take the stage.
- Blake Turnell was arrested before show
- He was far too intoxicated to continue
- READ MORE: Claim emerges about bar where Aussie teenagers drank
By ZAK WHEELER, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: 07:35 GMT, 3 January 2026 | Updated: 07:35 GMT, 3 January 2026
An ARIA Award-winning drill rapper was arrested outside a club in less than half an hour before he was due to take the stage.
Blake Turnell, 31, was arrested outside Club Evans RSL, in NSW, after police allegedly 'trespassed' him over claims he was behaving drunkenly about 7pm on Friday.
It is understood venue staff contacted police over Turnell's alleged antics and officers moved in when he allegedly failed to leave the premises where he was set to perform.
The rapper was charged with being an excluded person failing to leave premises when required and hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty.
Footage of the arrest showed Turnell arguing with police as they tried to place him in the back of a paddy wagon.
'Nah, nah, I have to do a show', he said in the video.
In the same video another person pleaded: 'Please, is there any way we can work this out'.
The arrest came just 35 minutes before he was scheduled to perform, with the show subsequently cancelled.
Blake Turnell, 31, was arrested hours before he was meant to perform on January 2
The rapper admitted he was too intoxicated for the show
Turnell is expected to appear in court on February 26
Turnell later said he was far too intoxicated to perform the show in a statement released after the incident.
'I wanna apologise for last night's events,' he said.
'The grown man I've become though knows my mistake was drinking, after doing so well fighting that demon some tough times led me back to the bottle and led me to (where) I was last night.
'I don't remember about 6 hours. HOWEVER, the police followed me to the venue to stop the show from going on, I hadn't committed a crime at the venue.
'Unless there's a charge you're laying on me you can't just come kick me out of my own show.'
Turnell did explain all patrons would be provided with a full refund to the show.
He was granted conditional bail.
Turnell is now due to appear at Ballina Local Court on February 26.