Huskii: rapper Benjamin Hayden charged with bail breach

A chart-topping rapper will face court charged with breaching bail as police investigate his national tour, including a video which appears to show him snorting a white substance.

A chart-topping western Sydney rapper on domestic violence charges is in custody as police seek to revoke his bail following an investigation into his social media and conduct during a recent national tour.

Benjamin Hayden – known professionally as Huskii – was charged in February 2022 with common assault, destroying or damaging property and contravening an apprehended violence order and spent several weeks behind bars on remand until he was granted bail.

Police have now charged Hayden with breaching his bail and will make a detention application to revoke his bail after the Blacktown Advocate brought the rapper’s Instagram posts in recent weeks to their attention.

The 29-year-old man was first refused bail at Blacktown Local Court on February 25 after the court heard police would allege he struck a woman while she was driving a car, called her a “slut”, threw her necklace out the car window and ripped her pants as she fled.

Hayden has pleaded not guilty to all three offences and will face a hearing at Blacktown Local Court on August 17.

Western Sydney rapper Huskii, aka Ben Hayden.

The rapper was later granted bail with specific conditions tailored to permit him to travel to Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Newcastle and Wollongong to undertake a national tour for his latest record Antihero.

The bail conditions set by the court also stipulated Hayden was to be of good behaviour; abstain from alcohol and drugs unless prescribed by a doctor; not to attend venues that serve alcohol except for the purpose of a music performance; and not to contact the complainant.

But a video posted on Hayden’s Huskii Instagram story appears to show Hayden snorting an unknown white substance from a small plate during his Melbourne show.

Another video appears to show Hayden with a gel blaster replica rifle – which is illegal in NSW – tucked into his pants.

An image from Huskii’s Instagram.

A picture posted to Hayden’s Instagram grid also appears to show a hand-rolled cigarette of unknown substance, while another picture shows two beverages of an unknown variety at Golden Century – a restaurant where alcohol is served.

The court further stipulated an enforcement condition which allowed police to administer non-invasive testing to confirm Hayden was complying with his drug and alcohol abstention if an officer reasonably suspected him to have consumed drugs or alcohol.
An acceptable person was also required to deposit $5000 as bail security which they would agree to forfeit if Hayden failed to comply with his bail conditions.

An image from Huskii’s Instagram at Golden Century.

Early on Thursday morning NSW Police issued a brief statement confirming they were conducting inquiries into Hayden’s social media posts after the Advocate brought the material to their attention.

By 11.15am, NSW Police confirmed they had charged Hayden with a breach of bail and would make a detention application.

“Officers from Blacktown Domestic and Family Violence Team attended a Blacktown address about 11.15am this morning (June 2),” a NSW Police spokeswoman stated.

“A 29-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Blacktown Police Station.

“He was charged with a breach of bail (and) remanded in custody to appear at Parramatta Local Court on June 3.

Hayden spent the night in custody and is due to face Parramatta Bail Court on Friday, where police will make the detention application in efforts to have his bail revoked.

The Wollongong-born rapper released his debut record Antihero in February 2022 and it peaked at #1 on the ARIA Charts.

He previously collaborated with fellow Sydney rapper ChillinIt on their EP 4 Days.

In a February interview with music publication NME prior to his arrest on the current domestic violence charges, Huskii said his legal issues were behind him.

“No, that’s over – I’m not even on parole. Nothing. It’s finished. Never again,” he told NME at the time.

“For the first time in my life, I’m not on any conditions or bail or good behaviour bond or whatever it is – suspended sentence. I’m back to square one – and I’ll start again.”