Rapper Flo Rida has cleared up reports suggesting police in Australia arrested his personal assistant for drug possession following a raid on his Queensland hotel suite, insisting he was not involved in the incident.
The Low hitmaker's tour Down Under took a turn for the worse on Sunday night (23Oct11) after Dakari Dalawn Phillips, an employee of the star's Img Strongarm Management, was taken into custody and charged with possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of restricted drugs and possession of a weapon after cops allegedly found marijuana, a rolled joint, Viagra, a bottle of liquid cannabis and a Taser. He spent the night in jail and was released after paying a fine of $1,865 (£1,243).
The arrest occurred just hours before Flo Rida was due to perform at a concert in Townsville, but the rapper has now spoken out to distance himself from the drug trouble.
In a statement to AllHipHop.com, he says, "I am not a smoker and, as a matter of fact, contrary to reports, my room was never raided."
He has also taken the opportunity to hit back at promoters for the Fat As Butter festival in Newcastle, Australia after he was forced to axe his appearance on Saturday (22Oct11) at late notice due to "unforeseen circumstances".
Festival organisers claimed Flo Rida was at fault for the no-show, but the star has blasted the claims, insisting they failed to provide him with accommodation and even neglected to arrange for adequate transportation to the venue.
And he's angry that Fat As Butter bosses have aired out their alleged grievances with him in the press.
He adds, "I didn't run to the media to discuss a business issue with my tour because I didn't think that was the appropriate way to handle things. Now I'm forced to, because the things that are being said about me are not true."