Kelly Slater wants stolen surfboards returned to Beastie Boys rapper
Age hasn't stopped Kelly Slater, 49, but Australia's insistence on COVID jabs just might. Photo: Getty
Champion surfer Kelly Slater has employed his hefty social media following in the search for surfboards stolen from the Malibu home of Beastie Boys rapper Michael Diamond, also known as Mike D.
Up to 20 surfboards, some worth more than $US1000, were stolen earlier in the week. Diamond reported the theft to police before reportedly posting on his own Instagram account for anyone who spotted the boards to “Grab the board, use a cable to bound that persons’ hands together [and] contact me and we will handle the rest.”
The post quickly drew the attention of gossip site TMZ, before Slater posted on his own Instagram account which has 1.7 million followers.
“Please keep a lookout around LA/Malibu and send me or anyone tagged here a DM if you have any info on these boards,” the post, which also contained the hashtag #IHateThieves, read.
“I like these boards, in fact I’d be happy to buy a couple back whoever did it on the side. They’re pretty cool.”
The post has since amassed over 22,000 likes and 250 comments, though it is not yet known if any of the boards have been returned.
Diamond, who grew up in New York, said he turned to surfing later in life and finds it to be “one of the few things” that demands his attention outside music.
“There’s a lot to be said about getting into surfing later in life,” Diamond said.
“If you’re able to stay cool with that, and find the joy in it and getting over your insecurity about not being a super master at it, then that’s a pretty cool thing.”
Diamond, together with Adam “MCA” Yauch and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, formed the Beastie Boys in 1980.
The group enjoyed worldwide success before disbanding shortly after the cancer-related death of Yauch in 2012.
Slater vocal on social media
Despite average form on this year’s surfing world tour, Slater has been a visible presence on social media.
In January, a post spruiking his wave pool generated over 320,000 likes while a more recent post evoked outrage after from what Slater described as believers in the “Flat Earth” theory.
“If the earth is flat, how does sunlight shine on the under side of the clouds as the sun disappears from view?” the post read.
“I’m hoping for some good commentary here people (and no cursing each other out). Anybody got thoughts on the subject?”
-ABC
