Justin Bieber: 'I never met the woman'

Justin Bieber is setting the record straight on rumors he fathered a child with a woman in California.

In his first public statement since the baby buzz began earlier this week, Bieber denied the claims on the "Today" show.

“I’d just like to say that basically none of those allegations are true,” the pop star told Matt Lauer early Friday. “I know I am going to be a target but I am never going to be a victim.”

Surrounded by screaming fans, the Biebs added that he doesn’t linger after his shows and goes straight to his car after a performance, referring to Mariah Yeater’s story that they had sex after a concert.

He also had one more clarification about the woman claiming he is the dad of her 3-month-old baby boy:

“I never met the woman,” he told Lauer.

And Bieber isn’t the only one talking about Yeater. Her name has been trending on-and-off on Twitter for several days, with many hate messages from Bieber fans.

SEE PHOTOSJustin Bieber through the years

After the show, Bieber turned to that same site to thank the "Today" show for the appearance.

“@todayshow thanks for letting me set the record straight” he tweeted. “What is real are my fans . . .This album . . . and this charity work. See u guys the 23rd.”