(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Caesar Emanuel says he’s being set up over a viral video that shows him abusing his dog.

The Black Ink Crew creator was reportedly out in New York City on Thursday (June 23), just hours after it was reported that VH1 had fired him over the video, which shows him at home hitting one of his pets with a metal folding chair. According to Caesar, the video isn’t what it seems as he was simply trying to stop a fight between his dogs before one of them went after him.

TMZ reports that Ceasar says he wishes he could take the incident back, but adds that in the moment he felt like he had to defend himself and wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

Additionally, Ceasar says the footage is from his home security camera and that someone has it out for him regarding how it got leaked.

RELATED: Black Ink Crew' Creator Ceasar Emanuel Fired After Dog Abuse Video Goes Viral Due to Dog Abuse Video

The video was originally shared by Twitter account GotCityTea and again by TMZ. In it, a figure presumed to be Emanuel, is seen viciously hitting a dog with a chair and within a minute later, kicking a dog’s crate down a slight incline—with the dog inside.

A spokesperson for VH1 told TMZ, "We have made the decision to cut ties with Ceaser Emanuel from Black Ink Crew New York. Since next season was close to finishing production, this decision will not impact the upcoming season."

However, TMZ reports that while production is wrapping up—some things are being kept open to properly address Emanuel’s exit.

In an update posted Thursday afternoon to TMZ, Emanuel’s attorney Walter Mosley told the outlet, “There is no police involvement. The video is old. It was shot at his residence in Atlanta during COVID."

Caeser has been on the show since its inception in 2013. It is currently in its 10th season. The reality series follows him and other tattoo artists at his popular tattoo shop—Black Ink. It is shot primarily at the Harlem location, but there are five other studios in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Orlando, and Houston.

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