48-year-old Akon, a Senegalese-American singer and businessman, has stated that he was much happier when he was poor because the rich have it much easier than the poor.
On Monday, October 4, he claimed this while defending a comment he made in the aftermath of actor Michael K. Williams’ death in September 2021. Williams’ death had been utilized by the artist as proof that the more money one makes, the more troubles one accumulates.
“Nobody can sit there and tell me that I didn’t suffer through poverty,” he stated in an interview with TMZ.
Akon continued, “I was the young African kid, barefoot and playing soccer in the village with no electricity, no running water, I knew what that looked like – believe me, I know what poverty looks like.”
“But I also know what success looks like, and from my personal experience, I’m having more problems successfully dealing with all that comes with success than I had when I was poor. I was actually happier when I was poor.”