New Orleans music producer Mykel Cook has been arrested and accused of knowingly exposing a bounce artist he produced to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Cook, 33, who works as MykelOnTheBeat, was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on 18 September 2026 on one count of intentional exposure to the AIDS virus, according to court records cited by NOLA.com.
The allegation has not been tested in court. Published reports did not include a response from Cook or a lawyer acting for him.
Bond and protective order
Cook was first held without bond pending a hearing under Louisiana’s Gwen’s Law, which applies to domestic abuse cases. Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah then set his bond at $250,000 and issued a domestic protective order for the woman. He has since been released on bond.
Louisiana law makes it a felony to intentionally expose another person to the AIDS virus without their knowing and lawful consent.
What the affidavit alleges
According to the arrest affidavit, Cook met the woman in 2018 and agreed to help her build a music career, later becoming her producer. She has told NOLA.com that the professional relationship later became a personal one.
New Orleans Police Department Detective Herman Franklin obtained Cook’s medical records through a warrant, Baller Alert reported.
The woman, a 38-year-old bounce performer, chose to go public. She told NOLA.com she wanted people in the music community to take HIV testing seriously and believes others may also have been exposed.
Cook is a well-known figure in New Orleans bounce music, recognised for his producer tag. Music databases list him as a producer or songwriter on releases by Fredo Bang and other Louisiana artists.
