Grammy-nominated rapper says he's left the U.S. and will 'never in life' return after Trump pardon
Grammy-nominated rapper says he's left the U.S. and will 'never in life' return after Trump pardon
Ayeesha WalshSat, August 15, 2026 at 4:37 PM UTC
0
NBA YoungBoy quit the U.S. after being pardoned by Trump -Credit:Getty Images
Grammy-nominated rapper NBA YoungBoy has revealed he has left the United States for good, telling fans he will “never in life” return after being pardoned by President Donald Trump.
The 26-year-old musician, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, confessed that after the president granted him his freedom he started a new life thousands of miles away from home and is now living in South Korea. NBA YoungBoy opened up about his decision during an appearance on Funny Marco’s Open Thoughts podcast on Tuesday, August 11, where he was asked why he had chosen South Korea as his new home.
The rapper joked that he had picked the country because it was “out the way,” before explaining that he had also relocated because, “It’s very safe here and very clean.” However, it appears the move is about more than simply finding a new place to live, with NBA YoungBoy making it clear that he does not currently see a future for himself back in America following his pardon.
• Whitney Houston's horrifying autopsy – burned skin, sewn-on wig and scars everywhere
• The Five host worries Karoline Leavitt will 'work at Fox News' after resignation
When asked if he could ever imagine returning to the US, the rapper gave a blunt response.
“Never in life,” he said. His decision is particularly notable given that NBA YoungBoy is a father to 13 children, many of whom remain in the United States.
Advertisement
When the subject of his children was raised during the podcast, the rapper acknowledged that his family remains one of the most important things in his life.
He said, “There’s nothing there for me at all. The most important thing is probably my kids.”
President Donald Trump pardoned the rapper last year -Credit:AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
He then appeared to suggest that the distance between him and his children would not prevent him from maintaining a relationship with them, adding, “That’s what they have planes for.”
NBA YoungBoy’s move comes after a turbulent period in his life, including a federal weapons case that ultimately resulted in him receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump.
The rapper was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison in December 2024 over weapons-related charges. According to the , he was released in March 2025 after receiving credit for time already served, before being ordered the following month to serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement.
NBA YoungBoy has no plans to return to living in the states -Credit:Getty Images
Trump subsequently granted NBA YoungBoy a pardon in May, bringing a significant chapter in the rapper’s legal troubles to an end. Following the presidential pardon, NBA YoungBoy publicly thanked Trump and said the decision had given him another opportunity to move forward with his life and career.
He said, “I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building - as a man, as a father, and as an artist."
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports, and entertainment stories.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
