Akon slaps his security guard on the head during a show in Russia

Akon slapped his security guard on the head in front of fans during a performance this week in Russia.

The singer, 52, was seen attempting to ride the man like a horse in footage shared to social media on Wednesday.

Akon, who has just played two concerts in the country, was singing 2009 hit Sexy Chick when he jumped off the stage and climbed on to the guard’s shoulders. 

He then proceeded to slap the palm of his hand on the man’s forehead while being carried across the front of the crowd. 

Reddit users branded his actions ‘dehumanising and disrespectful’ after the clip was shared on the platform. 

They commented: What kind of person must you have to be to treat another person that way, seriously. And imagine thinking that you’re better than other people because you sing for a living.’ 

Another added: ‘That’s very dehumanizing and disrespectful, just because someone works for you doesn’t mean you can mistreat them. 

‘If I was the security guard I would have dropped his entitled a**!’

It comes following the news that Akon’s grand plans to build a £4.3 billion futuristic city in Senegal have officially been scrapped five years after the singer promised to turn a remote stretch of West African coastline into a real-life Wakanda.

The Senegalese government confirmed in July that instead of the ambitious plan, it was now making way for something more ‘realistic’.

Serigne Mamadou, in charge of Senegal’s tourism development body, Sapco told the BBC: ‘The Akon City project no longer exists.’

‘Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he’s preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support.’

Back in 2018, Akon unveiled plans to build his own futuristic city in Senegal, trading in a crypto-currency named ‘AKoin’ after himself.

The proposal for Akon Crypto City said it would be a ‘real-life Wakanda’ – referring to a technologically advanced country in Marvel’s Black Panther film.

AKoin’s website said the city, near the capital Dakar, will include universities, schools, a sports stadium and an international airport on 2,000 acres of land.   

The Smack That singer told the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity that the currency could be the ‘saviour of Africa in many ways’, Sky News reported. 

The website described Akon Crypto City as ‘the first 100 per cent crypto-based city with AKoin at the center of transactional life’.

It claimed that 2,000 acres of land had already been granted to the project by the President of Senegal, Macky Sall.

It added: ‘[The city is] within 5 minutes of the new international airport, close to the coast and a short drive from Dakar, the capital city of Senegal (Akon’s ancestral homeland).

‘This mixed use, master-planned city, contains everything from residential to retail, parks, stadium, light manufacturing, universities, and schools.

‘Akon Crypto City has opportunities for brands, businesses and high-profile individuals to create amazing, inclusive experiences in a futuristic environment and welcomes anyone looking to step into the future.’ 

He previously started the Lighting Africa project in an effort to provide solar energy to the continent.

Akon became an international success in 2004 following the release of his debut album and several top 10 hits included Locked Up.

In recent times, he has been less involved in the music industry after a series of singles that failed to replicate his earlier commercial success.