Justin Bieber, 17, tackled the story bubbling around him - a San Diego woman has filed a paternity suit
claiming he's the father of her baby boy - on the Today show this morning when he appeared live on Rockefeller Plaza with Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker.
"I'd just like to say that none of those allegations are true. I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim."
Mariah Yeater says she had sex with Bieber in a Staples Center backstage bathroom one night after a concert last year. She was 19; he was 16.
Added Bieber this morning, "I think it's crazy, because every night after the show I've gone right from the stage to my car, so it's crazy that someone would want to make such false allegations. To set the record straight: None of it's true."
When asked if he knew Yeater, Bieber said, "I've never met the woman."
Yeater gave birth to a boy in July and claims Bieber is the father. His camp has denied it, calling the claims "malicious" and "false." She has filed papers in a San Diego court asking a judge for child support and a paternity test. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Last night on HLN's Dr. Drew show, Yeater's lawyers Matt Pare and Lance Rogers said they need the pop star to "step up and take the test."
The attorneys were asked what they would do if the paternity test came back proving that Bieber is not the father. They would then possibly face a lawsuit from Bieber's team.
"We think that's highly unlikely based on the evidence we have, not all of which has been released to the media, by any means," Pare said. "There's credible evidence that supports he is the father."
By filing the claim though, aren't Yeater's attorneys admitting statutory rape?
"Not technically," Pare says.
But AP is reporting that Yeater could be investigated for having sex with a minor. "If it's brought to our attention, of course we'll look into it," Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andrew Smith tells AP.
Pare told Pinskey last night that Yeater is willing to move ahead despite that. "Here is another thing that's legally significant. Under California law, the difference in age is less than three years – then it is only a misdemeanor. If that's the case, she may be on the hook for misdemeanor; $5,000 penalty."
Pare said that even if she is guilty of statutory rape, "that has no bearing whatsoever on the right for child support."
Meanwhile, Yeater has been the subject of death threats by Bieber fans - Beliebers - on Twitter. And Jimmy Fallon spoofed the whole thing by doing a Bieber imitation and singing, "It's not my baby, baby, baby, no ..."
CAPTION
By Yuri Cortez, AFP/Getty Images
"I'd just like to say that none of those allegations are true. I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim."
Mariah Yeater says she had sex with Bieber in a Staples Center backstage bathroom one night after a concert last year. She was 19; he was 16.
Added Bieber this morning, "I think it's crazy, because every night after the show I've gone right from the stage to my car, so it's crazy that someone would want to make such false allegations. To set the record straight: None of it's true."
When asked if he knew Yeater, Bieber said, "I've never met the woman."
Yeater gave birth to a boy in July and claims Bieber is the father. His camp has denied it, calling the claims "malicious" and "false." She has filed papers in a San Diego court asking a judge for child support and a paternity test. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Last night on HLN's Dr. Drew show, Yeater's lawyers Matt Pare and Lance Rogers said they need the pop star to "step up and take the test."
The attorneys were asked what they would do if the paternity test came back proving that Bieber is not the father. They would then possibly face a lawsuit from Bieber's team.
"We think that's highly unlikely based on the evidence we have, not all of which has been released to the media, by any means," Pare said. "There's credible evidence that supports he is the father."
By filing the claim though, aren't Yeater's attorneys admitting statutory rape?
"Not technically," Pare says.
But AP is reporting that Yeater could be investigated for having sex with a minor. "If it's brought to our attention, of course we'll look into it," Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andrew Smith tells AP.
Pare told Pinskey last night that Yeater is willing to move ahead despite that. "Here is another thing that's legally significant. Under California law, the difference in age is less than three years – then it is only a misdemeanor. If that's the case, she may be on the hook for misdemeanor; $5,000 penalty."
Pare said that even if she is guilty of statutory rape, "that has no bearing whatsoever on the right for child support."
Meanwhile, Yeater has been the subject of death threats by Bieber fans - Beliebers - on Twitter. And Jimmy Fallon spoofed the whole thing by doing a Bieber imitation and singing, "It's not my baby, baby, baby, no ..."
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