MUMBAI: During the Falls Festival in New South Wales, Australia, BET Hip Hop Award nominee - Joey Bada$$ was charged with assault after claiming to have broken a security guard's nose. The 19-year old American rapper, whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, was about to go on stage on the festival’s closing night, when he was stopped by a security guard checking his credentials.

The Australian police claim that, that was when the rapper punched the security guard, aged 20, in the face before continuing towards the stage to perform. They also claim that the guard told them that he thought Bada$$ was an unauthorised person. The guard had to be immediately treated by paramedics for a broken nose and other facial injuries before being taken to the hospital.

After the show ended, Bada$$ was arrested by police and taken to Byron Bay police station, where he spent the night in custody. On Saturday, 3 January 2015, the rapper appeared at Lismore Local Court on Saturday and was granted bail.

A police spokeswoman stated to the Sydney Morning Herald that Joey Bada$$, “was refused bail and appeared at Lismore Bail Court on Saturday” before being released. He has since been asked to appear again in court on 19 March, but he will continue his Australian tour as scheduled.

The Brooklyn-based rapper is currently touring Australia, promoting his debut studio album ‘B4.Da.$$’, and is due to perform in Sydney and Melbourne this week.