Akon Lies About His Age

Akon, real name Aliaune Damala Thiam, has been lying about his age. Akon says he doesn’t want to disclose his real age, because it will disappoint his female fans. Akon said:

"All it’s going to do is depress me. I don’t want to know I’m getting older. Then I’ll start to think about getting checkups and insurance. I don’t want that."

Numerous reports have put his age between 25 to 35 years old. In 2006, he gave his age as 25. But now, he claims his birth certificate shows he was born on April 16, 1977, which would make him 31. However, when Akon was booked, and the mug shot above was taken, in New York in December of 2007, Akon claimed his age was 34 years-old. Lying to police is a crime.

Although Akon was born in the United States, he spent his early life in Senegal, where his family is from, and he says he never knew his real age:

"In Africa … age is not important over there. They don’t care. People only focus on it here (America) and in Europe."

Akon says when people ask, he just gives him a figure that comes to mind.

"I feel like I’m 21 right now, and I’ll be 21 for the next 10 years."

Lying to people on the street might not matter, but it’s a crime when you lie to police, a government agency, or a court about your age. It’s called perjury, and it is punishable with prison time.

This is the same irresponsible, and reckless, attitude that keeps getting Akon into trouble.