Kanye West has hit back at the paparazzi after he was arrested in Newcastle for allegedly assaulting one of them.

The rapper was arrested briefly after a gig up north on Thursday. A photographer alleged that he suffered cuts and bruises after the rapper pushed a camera into his face.

Now the Love Lockdown singer has written on his blog: I PUT MY HAND UP TO THE CAMERA IN SELF DEFENSE! HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED...WHEN I LEFT THE CLUB, I WAS ENCOUNTERED BY A THIRSTY PAPARAZZI AS USUAL.

HE FELT HE HAD MORE RIGHTS TO MY SPACE THAN ME, SO I PUT MY HAND UP TO PREVENT HIM FROM TAKING MY IMAGE. I DIDN'T ASSAULT HIM BUT MERELY PUTTING MY HAND UP TO COVER HIS LENS.

After referencing the death of Princess Diana West- who releases his new album 808s & Heartbreak on November 24- also wrote:

REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH LIGHT I PUT OUT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING JUST AS HARD TO ONLY DELIVER DARKNESS.

I AM NOT A CELEBRITY. I'M A NORMAL PERSON THAT'S JUST FAMOUS. I REFUSE TO SNEAK IN AND OUT OF BACK DOORS AND KITCHENS OF HOTELS ETC....