I never agreed to play NYE gig, says will.i.am

Will.i.am insists he never agreed to perform at a New Year's Eve concert in Brazil.

The 'It's a New Day' singer had reportedly cancelled his appearance at Rio De Janerio's Copacabana New Year's Eve event on Tuesday, but a spokesperson for the Black Eyed Peas star claims he had never officially accepted the invitation and the unauthorized information had been leaked.

In a statement released to the Rio Times Online, his manager Polo Molina said: "These staging elements were not confirmed, so no agreement to perform was ever reached.

"Regrettably, mention of will.i.am's inclusion in the New Year's Eve show leaked without consent from his team, will.i.am is not contracted or scheduled to perform on New Year's Eve in Brazil, and apologises to his fans for confusion caused as a result of the unauthorized and premature external discussion of his involvement."

The 38-year-old singer was reportedly invited to take part in the event - known locally as Cocobana Réveillon - to celebrate the upcoming release of animated film 'Rio 2' in which he voices the Red-crested Cardinal character 'Pedro'.

Despite his absence, party goers from around the world will gather along the shoreline of Copacabana to ring in the New Year along with nearly two dozen DJs and performers.