Music producer arrested over intentional HIV exposure

A New Orleans music producer has been arrested over allegations that he intentionally exposed a recording artist to HIV.

Mykel “MykelOnTheBeat” Cook, 33, was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on September 18 on a charge of intentional exposure to HIV, according to court records cited by NOLA.com.

Cook was initially held without bond pending a Gwen’s Law hearing. Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah later set his bond at $250,000 and issued a domestic protective order for the alleged victim.

He has since been released on bond.

Cook also has previous domestic violence convictions dating to 2021 and 2023 in St. Charles and Jefferson parishes, respectively.

The alleged victim, 38-year-old musician Jayvonda Bazile, who performs under the name BOG Vonnie, gave permission for her identity to be made public.

Bazile told NOLA.com that she decided to speak publicly to encourage people in the music industry to take HIV testing seriously, adding that she was concerned others may have been exposed.

According to the arrest affidavit, Cook met Bazile in 2018 and agreed to help her develop her music career before becoming her producer.

Their professional relationship later became intimate, although Bazile said they were not in a formal relationship.

“We became friends, and we weren’t in a relationship, but we were casually hooking up, or hanging out, doing music,” Bazile told the outlet.

The allegations against Cook remain before the court, and the case is ongoing.