New York rapper Joey Bada$ will be allowed to continue his tour to New Zealand despite being charged with punching a security guard in the face in Australia.
The 19-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Jalani Virginie, allegedly punched the security guard and broke his nose after the guard asked him to prove his identity before a show at the Falls Music Festival near Byron Bay last Friday.
A Byron Bay police spokeswoman told the Sydney Morning Herald that the security guard was treated for a broken nose and other facial injuries.
Bada$ was arrested following his performance and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the spokeswoman said.
He appeared at Lismore Bail Court on Saturday and has been bailed to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on March 19.
In a statement, Bada$'s representative Bradley Bledsoe said: "Joey can confirm that there was a misunderstanding with security at the Byron Falls Festival show, which resulted in charges being laid.
"After fully cooperating with police, Joey was granted bail and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge."
Bada$ is due to perform with Run the Jewels at the James Cabaret in Wellington on January 9 and at Studio in Auckland on January 10.
Despite the charge, he won't be prevented from entering the country, Immigration New Zealand spokeswoman Rachel Purdom confirmed.
"Immigration New Zealand does not plan to cancel Joey Bada$' visa or decline him entry to New Zealand," she said.
"As far as INZ is aware he does not have criminal convictions which would exclude him coming to New Zealand."
Last February, Immigration NZ banned LA rap group Odd Future from entering the country to support Eminem at his Western Springs show after the agency deemed the group to be a threat to the public.
Documents later released under the Official Information Act revealed border operations manager Karen Urwin hoped the decision would result in a positive news story for the the government agency.
At the time, Immigration NZ said the group had been banned because they were deemed "to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they have incited violence".
By Brendan Manning of NZME. News Service
