Too Short Says His Arrest Was Exaggerated

Too Short spent a few hours in Idaho's Ada County Jail on Thursday, July 15, after police nabbed him late the previous night on three counts of misdemeanor assault and battery.

The rapper, real name Todd Anthony Shaw, was arrested following a show at the Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho. According to reports, Too Short attempted to escort a few underage girls backstage, and ended up in a scuffle with three security guards who tried to stop him. On Monday (July 19), Too Short issued a statement to XXL magazine claiming that the details of that night have been exaggerated by the press.

"The accusations against me regarding my arrest in Idaho on July 15, 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 Short 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 in the type of thing that I would do."

Too Short and his associate Michael T. Walton were charged with two counts of battery for the incident, and were eventually released after posting bond. They are both scheduled to return to Boise for an August 4 court date.