Justin Bieber will take paternity test upon return from Europe; spokesman
TORONTO - Justin Bieber will take a paternity test in an effort to disprove allegations he fathered a child in a backstage bathroom, a spokesman for the singer told The Canadian Press on Monday.
Matthew Hiltzik said the 17-year-old performer will take a paternity test when he returns to the U.S. within the next two weeks.
A paternity suit was filed against Bieber last week by Mariah Yeater, who claims she had a brief sexual encounter with the star after one of his concerts last fall at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Yeater, who would have been 19 at the time of the alleged encounter, says she gave birth to a boy in July and believes Bieber who would have been 16 is the father.
Hiltzik said Bieber's team would pursue all legal avenues in the matter.
"It's sad that someone would fabricate malicious, defamatory, and demonstrably false claims," Hiltzik said in an emailed statement.
Appearing on NBC's "Today" show last week, Bieber denied the paternity allegations, calling them "crazy" and adding that he'd never met Yeater.
The 17-year-old performer, who was raised in Stratford, Ont., was in London on Monday to switch on the Christmas lights at the city's two biggest shopping malls.
Thousands of young and mostly female fans waited hours for Bieber to appear. Bieber travelled the 20 kilometres between the malls by helicopter.
He appeared in Belfast on Sunday night at the MTV Europe Awards, which were hosted by his girlfriend, Selena Gomez.
Bieber picked up the award for best male act as well as best pop act.
Yeater is asking a judge for child support and a paternity test. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Los Angeles police have said Yeater could be investigated for having had sex with a minor. Under California law, it's illegal to have sex with someone under age 18.
Meanwhile, last week The Associated Press cited court records showing Yeater faces trial on Dec. 12 on a misdemeanour battery charge, which could result ! in a six -month jail term and a $1,000 fine. She has pleaded not guilty.
A police report cited by the AP said Yeater, who attended high school in Las Vegas, slapped her 18-year-old ex-boyfriend during an argument on Dec. 21, 2010.
With files from The Associated Press