Justin Bieber goes public: 'Never met the woman' claiming to have his baby

"I'd just like to say, basically, that none of those allegations are true," Bieber said on Friday morning's episode of the Today Show. Host Matt Lauer asked the pop star what he’d care to say about recent allegations Bieber fathered a three-month-old baby. Mariah Yeater, a 20-year-old California woman, is suing Bieber, demanding a paternity test and child support. When asked if he knows Yeater, Bieber replied: "Never met the woman."

"I know that I'm gonna be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim," Bieber said on Today. "I just think it's crazy, because every night after the show I've gone right from the stage right to my car,” which is, you’ll recall, a Batmobile, “so it's crazy that some people want to make up such false allegations. But to set the record straight, none of it is true.”

Earlier this week, Bieber Tweeted that he was going "to ignore" the allegations directed at him, though his reps issued a statement about Yeater's suit Tuesday, following a Star magazine report of the would-be Bieber baby. "While we haven't yet seen the lawsuit, it's sad that someone would fabricate malicious, defamatory and demonstrably false claims," said Bieber's reps. "We will vigorously pursue all available legal remedies to defend and protect Justin against these allegations."

And though it seemed Bieber's appearance on Today was largely to talk up his new Christmas album -- and a return appearance to the show Nov. 23 -- he was apparently happy for the chance to address the paternity suit on TV. Following the interview, he Tweeted to the Today Show: "thanks for letting me set the record straight. what is real are my fans...this album...and this charity work. see u guys the 23rd."

As for Yeater, the Associated Press reports that L.A. police have not opened a statutory rape investigation against her in relation to her alleged Bieber-encounter, though it is a possibility. (According to Yeater's claims, she would have had s*x with Bieber when she was 19 and he was 16; the age of consent in California is 18, and being with a partner three or more years younger would be considered a misdemeanor.) "If it's brought to our attention, of course we'll look into it," L.A. police Cmdr. Andrew Smith told AP.

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