Last Thursday, Too $hort was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery in Boise, Idaho after an altercation with security guards at the Knitting Factory. In a police report, the guards claimed the fight happened when the West Coast legend attempted to bring underage girls backstage. In a statement to XXLMag, Short Dog denied the allegations.

“The accusations against me regarding my arrest in Idaho on July 15th, were untrue and exaggerated,” he said. “Normally I would ignore rumors, but because of the nature of the story that’s being spread I had to say something. I don’t blame these outlets for running with the story because it’s about Too $hort the ‘dirty rapper’ who has never had a scandal and it involved the words ‘underage girls.’ However, due to my work with young people in Oakland I am extremely outraged at the way I am being portrayed. The incident that night was completely taken out of context and I have not and never will take advantage of any woman that is underage. Never that!

“These days people believe everything that they see on TV and these blogs,” he continued. “I have been dedicated to youth organizations and wish to continue to support them and I do not want my community and especially young people that look up to me to think that this is the type of thing that I would do.”

As previously reported Too $hort is currently free after posting bond, but he could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted. He is due back in court on August 4.