Red Hot Chili Peppers producer Rick Rubin has been charged with allegedly violating Hawaii’s mandatory 14-day COVID quarantine. Rubin is accused of being filmed and photographed by paparazzi walking on the beach at 6:30PM on September 2nd.
Rubin had been following Rubin since his arrival on September 1st at the airport. Rubin was walking on an empty area of Anini Beach with no one else around near his Princeville resort.
Defense attorney Craig De Costa requested to Fifth District Court Judge Michael Soong on Wednesday morning in court that Rubin’s lack of presence at a hearing be waved.
Rubin’s next court date is on February 9, 2021. Hawaii requires a strict two week quarantine when you arrive due to the COVID pandemic. Rubin has produced most of Red Hot Chili Peppers hit albums, and he is currently working with the band on John Frusciante’s comeback record. He produced The Strokes’ The New Abnormal earlier this year, and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol. 1 in 2018, featuring the return of James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin.
The Garden Island broke news on Rubin being accused of this crime, where he potentially faces jail time and a fine up to $5,000, though he likely won’t face a lot of jail time due to his lack of interaction with the public.
