The Cuban reggaeton artist known as Ovi, actual name Ovidio Crespo-Retureta, was arrested in Miami on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, improper exhibition of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance, specifically Percocet, after a road rage incident was captured on video by the other driver involved. According to authorities cited by NBC Miami, the confrontation took place near Florida's Turnpike on Tamiami Trail. Crespo was later apprehended while driving a black Lamborghini Urus, and police found a handgun and two pills in the vehicle.
The altercation ostensibly began when Ovi's McLaren almost collided with Giuseppe Benignini's car, resulting in the latter honking his horn. In response, he alleges that the McLaren driver displayed a firearm. As quoted on NBC Miami, Benignini recounted, "Ladies and gentlemen, the singer Ovi took out a gun and threatened me here in Miami." The incident was shared across social media, with Benignini stating in his video: "When he pulls the gun out, I dodge and go into the other lane and quickly move up, and he drives up to my side." Ovi, recognized from his online presence, was indicated by the victim from a police lineup.
The video evidence of the incident, which gained substantial attention on social media platforms like Instagram, showed the singer brandishing a weapon at Benignini. Seeking justice and perhaps shocked by the recklessness of someone of Ovi's stature, Benignini publicly denounced the singer. "I know it's him because he has the same car on his Instagram," he stated in an account covered by CiberCuba, underscoring the connection between the artist's public persona and the individual brandishing a deadly weapon amidst Miami traffic.
Ovi's arrest adds to his history of legal issues within the United States, including an incident in 2021 involving the display of a weapon during an altercation with another singer. Seeking a measure of accountability against the backdrop of a society grappling with the implications of fame and violence, the Venezuelan model voiced his incomprehension at the actions of someone who purports to be an artist. In the words obtained by CiberCuba, Benignini emphasized, "I don't understand, people who claim to be artists."
