Perez Hilton Sues Over Peas Punch

PopEater / Wire Services
posted: 40 DAYS 5 HOURS AGO
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filed under: Music News, Troublemakers, Fight!
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Perez Hilton has accused the Black Eyed Peas' manager of assaulting him outside a Toronto nightclub, and he's hitting back with a civil lawsuit. The celebrity blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, is seeking more than $25,000 for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The suit states Hilton is seeking to protect his rights to free speech and claims Polo Molina attacked him because he made critical comments about the Black Eyed Peas' new album. Molina was arrested in Toronto early Monday after he allegedly punched Hilton following a heated argument between the blogger and Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am.
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Perez Hilton Snapshots

    Blogger and television personality Perez Hilton rallies with gay marriage supporters after the California Court's ruling for Proposition 8 in West Hollywood, Calif. on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

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    LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 26: Actress Emmy Rossum, (C) Perez Hilton and Kelly Osbourne attend a march following the California Supreme Court's ruling to uphold Proposition 8, on May 26, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. The California State Supreme Court voted 6-1 to uphold proposition 8 which makes it illegal for same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. More than 18,000 same-sex couples that wed before prop 8 was voted in will still be legally married. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kelly Osbourne;Emmy Rossum;Perez Hilton

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 26: (L-R) Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, comedienne Kathy Griffin and Griffin's mother Maggie attend the Prop 8 Rally on May 26, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kathy Griffin;Maggie Griffin;Perez Hilton

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 26: Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (L) and comedienne Kathy Griffin (R) attend the Prop 8 Rally on May 26, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Perez Hilton;Kathy Griffin

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 26: Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton attends the Prop 8 Rally on May 26, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Perez Hilton

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 26: Actress Emmy Rossum (L) and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (R) attend the Prop 8 Rally on May 26, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Emmy Rossum;Perez Hilton

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 26: (L-R) Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (L) and comedienne Kathy Griffin (R) attend the Prop 8 Rally on May 26, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kathy Griffin;Perez Hilton

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    HOLLYWOOD - MAY 20: Perez Hilton attends House Of Mollinari birthday extravaganza at h wood on May 20, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Perez Hilton

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    HOLLYWOOD - MAY 20: Perez Hilton attends House Of Mollinari birthday extravaganza at h wood on May 20, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Perez Hilton

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    Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton arrives at House of Mollinari Birthday Extravaganza at H Wood on May 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. House Of Mollinari Birthday Extravaganza H Wood Los Angeles, CA United States May 20, 2009 Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com To license this image (57502714), contact WireImage.com

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"Perez Hilton was assaulted by the band's road manager because he would not agree to stop writing about the Black Eyed Peas on his Web site Perezhilton.com," Bryan Freedman, Hilton's lawyer, said in a statement. "Whether you love Perez or hate him, he is entitled to his freedom of speech without fear of physical violence. This lawsuit will make the statement that violence is never the answer."
The complaint states Black Eyed Peas vocalist Fergie approached Hilton on Saturday and asked why he was writing "mean" things about her and the group. Hilton replied that he was "simply being honest and truthful about his opinions of them," according to the lawsuit.
On Sunday, Hilton claims he was pushed by an unidentified member of the Black Eyed Peas' entourage, who "slammed his shoulder into Hilton's shoulder and thereafter pushed him."
The lawsuit claims Fergie again approached him at an afterparty for the MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday night and that his argument with will.i.am happened at another party. The lawsuit claims the blogger was trying to leave that party when Molina punched him at least three times.
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"Lavandeira sustained injury to his eye and was bleeding as a result of this violent and malicious attack," the lawsuit claims.
His damage claims include medical costs and damages due to "humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress." The lawsuit also claims that Molina is on probation in California for a drunken driving conviction under his real name, Liborio Molina.
Hilton, who is openly gay, said Monday that he called will.i.am a "f***ot," a gay slur, inside the club after the musician told the blogger not to write about his band on his Web site.
He posted about the attack on the popular microblogging site Twitter on Monday, and has since answered a call by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to apologize for using the term by posting a statement on his web site.
Hilton wrote: "Words can hurt. I know that very well, from both sides of the fence. The other night in Toronto, after feeling physically threatened by a verbally abusive will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, I chose the most hurtful word I know to hurl at him. I was in an out-of-the ordinary situation and used a word that I would not utter under normal circumstances."
TMZ reveals that Molina is on probation stemming from a DUI arrest in California, and therefore could also spend six months in jail if the D.A. moves to violate his probation.
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2009-06-25 00:01:06
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