Joey Bada$$ Arrested For Assault In Australia; Rapper’s Rep Issues Statement

During his current tour in Australia, Joey Bada$$ was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm following his performance at the Falls Music and Arts Festival near Byron Bay in New South Wales Saturday (January 3).

According to ABC News, the incident occurred just before Joey took the stage when he was stopped by a security guard who questioned his credentials.

The exchange allegedly led to Joey punching the security guard in the face.

“A 20-year-old man was allegedly punched in the face by a man while working as a security guard at the festival,” a police spokeswoman said, according to a Yahoo! News story. “The man was treated for a broken nose and other facial injuries.”

Following the performance, Joey Bada$$ was arrested and held in custody overnight by the Byron Bay police. He appeared in Lismore Court on Saturday, was granted bail and is scheduled to appear in Byron Bay Local Court again March 19.

Joey continues his current tour of Australia to promote his upcoming debut album, B4.da.$$, set to be released January 20.

For additional Joey Bada$$ coverage, watch the following DX Daily:

(January 5, 2014)

UDPATE: A Joey Bada$$ representative gave Pitchfork a statement regarding the rapper’s arrest.

“There was a misunderstanding with security at the Byron Falls Festival show, which resulted in charges being laid by NSW Police,” the statement says. “After fully cooperating with Police, Joey was granted bail and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.”