LOGAN, W.Va. — “America’s Got Talent” winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. posted bond after being arrested Monday night on misdemeanor counts of domestic violence and domestic assault but Murphy said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon that he was the one who was attacked.
According to a criminal complaint, Murphy got into an argument with his girlfriend at his home in Logan County. He allegedly hit the woman with a golf club, slapped her and slammed her head on a sidewalk.
Their young child was at the home at the time, investigators said.
Murphy’s statement said his girlfriend invited a lot of people over to the house and they trashed the place. He said an argument started and then “she began destroying things with a golf club. She then attacked me with a golf club–and a knife,” the statement said.
Murphy went on to say in defending himself his girlfriend was injured.
“I did not strike her. She filed a complaint against me anyway,” Murphy said.
He added he was “raised to respect women.”
Murphy was released from the Southwestern Regional Jail after posting $3,500 bond.
“Landau Murphy is an extremely decent, loving, caring man” Murphy’s manager Burke Allen said. “He faced a very disturbing, and indeed dangerous situation on Monday night. When all the facts are out, it will be clear that his actions were necessary and appropriate.”
Murphy won “America’s Got Talent” in 2011. He’s performed across the United States and in several foreign countries.