Justin Bieber's Model Pal Chantel Jeffries Breaks Her Silence: "I Have Not Been Arrested Five Times!"

"I have been overwhelmed by the negative attention I have recently received in the media," the student says

By Zach Johnson Jan 29, 2014 2:11 PMTags
Chantel Jeffries, InstagramInstagram

Chantel Jeffries wants to set the record straight.

The 21-year-old model, who rode shotgun in Justin Bieber's rented Lamborghini when the singer was arrested for DUI, released a statement regarding New York Daily News and Daily Mail articles that claimed her rap sheet lists five arrests, including one in February 2011 for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.

"I have been overwhelmed by the negative attention I have recently received in the media," Jeffries tells E! News in a statement. "My family and I are particularly upset about the false accusations which have been published concerning my criminal history."

"For the record, I have not been arrested five times as has been stated in the media, nor am I guilty of physically assaulting anyone, in any way shape or form," she adds. "I am a full-time student who had enjoyed a normal lifestyle, free from public scrutiny and criticism, until now. What has happened to me is wrong. I want people in general, and the media in particular, to consider the impact their disparaging comments have on the individual; especially when their comments are inaccurate."

Tellingly, she does not deny all of the alleged arrests. Per TMZ, Jeffries was arrested when at age 18 for a misdemeanor assault, but the case was later dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Other than that, Jeffries' lawyer says she's only had "traffic violations."

Jeffries, who hails from Jacksonville, N.C., is a self-described "eyebrow connoisseur," "animal lover" and "deep thinker."

She recently traveled to Panama with Bieber, 19, after he was released from jail.

She was in talks to appear on NBC's Today earlier in the week, she confirmed via Twitter, to "talk not about Justin, about false allegations against me only." That interview fell through.

Jeffries was also accused of trying to earn $20,000 another TV tell-all. "I would never 'sell my story,'" she tweeted, adding, "It's a hard thing, knowing who to truly trust."