Joey Bada$$ is not having the best Australian tour right now. The Brooklyn rapper has been charged with assault stemming from an incident at the Falls Festival in Byron Bay, Australia, about 100 miles south of Brisbane. According to police reports, 19-year-old Joey Bada$$ got into an altercation with a security guard and allegedly punched him in the face, leaving the man with a broken nose.
Joey Bada$$, whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Jalani Virginie, was about to take the stage Friday, Jan. 2, at approximately 8:30 p.m. when he was approached by the security guard. The guard did not believe Virginie was who he said he was, then Bada$$ allegedly lashed out.
According to a police spokesman, "A 20-year-old man was allegedly punched in the face by a man while working as a security guard at the festival. The man was treated for a broken nose and other facial injuries."
Joey Bada$$ was arrested by Byron Bay Police after his performance and charged with assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, via the Sydney Morning Herald.
"He was refused bail and appeared at Lismore Bail Court on Saturday," the spokeswoman said.
The Brooklyn rapper has a second court date in Byron Bay Local Court March 19, which could be an issue if he wants to go on tour this spring in support of his upcoming artist album B4.DA.$$, which is slated for release Jan. 20. He has a few more shows down under, including a small run of gigs with Run the Jewels over the next few days, but will have to keep mid-March open to deal with his new legal obligations.
The ordeal does not appear to have dampened his spirits, as seen in a Twitter post:
This #B4DAMONEY AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND tour tee though... #PROERA | designed by @surniles https://t.co/xkjzSguKUB pic.twitter.com/IUSr2GFmHG
— B4.DA.$$ 1.20.15 (@joeyBADASS) January 4, 2015
