Flavor Flav is to fight the domestic abuse charges levelled at him earlier on this month. He was arrested last week, but intends to plead not guilt and reconcile with his wife, The Associated Press reports.

William Jonathan Drayton Jr., aka Flavor Flav didn't appear in person during a hearing before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa. The 53-year-old former rap, hip-hop and reality TV star is alledged to have pushed his girlfriend of eight years to the floor and wielded two knives as he chased and threatened the woman's 17-year-old son during an argument Wednesday at their home in Las Vegas. But, according to his attourney, he'll fight these charges by pleading not guilty. "They've been together a long time, and they want to work this out," Tony Abbatangelo said. "We want what's best for the family." Elizabeth Trujillo, 39, told police her earring was ripped out during the incident that she said stemmed from an argument over infidelity. The teenage son wasn't injured.

Flav found fame in the 80s and 90s as part of the rap group Public enemy; his signature look was an oversized clock round his neck. He later went on to star in reality TV shows. He does, however have a criminal history, which includes a month in jail for assaulting his then-girlfriend in 1991, and three months in prison for shooting at a neighbor in New York in 1993.