Perez Hilton sues Black Eyed Peas’ manager over altercation

Hollywood blogger Perez Hilton filed suit Wednesday against the Black Eyed Peas’ manager over an altercation outside a Toronto nightclub that left the gossip maven bloodied and turning to Twitter to summon police help.

In the L.A. County Superior Court suit alleging battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, Hilton’s lawyer said a “ brutal physical assault” by manager Liborio “Polo” Molina capped repeated verbal attacks by the Black Eyed Peas’ members Fergie and will.i.am.

 The performers, lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote, were angry that Hilton had panned their latest album. Freedman charged that Molina punched Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, three or four times in the face, causing an injury to his eye. Toronto police charged Molina with assault.

“No matter how angry Molina and his entourage may have been, no matter how much they disagree with Lavandeira’s opinions, they did not have, nor do they ever have, the right to try and inflict physical harm on him or anyone else,” Freedman wrote.

The suit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, also contends that Molina and the band of “a long history of violence,” including a brawl in a German nightclub and an incident in which Molina struck an off-duty police officer during filming of an episode of “Punk’d.”

Molina could not be reached for comment. Will.i.am’s publicist did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

-- Harriet Ryan 

Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[Kenny M]

Why do LA taxpayers have to foot the bill to try this idiots case? Didn't the "assault" happen in Toronto? My last geography lesson showed that Toronto was in Canada! LA courts have enough case's to handle!
Peahead, get a life!

[Jay Are]

Whiner. What a little crybaby you are "Perez." "Mommy, protect me..." he "tweets" because he has no real friends...only his cyber personality followers. This is the guy that everyone felt like beating up in school when he was younger....and now we know why. Go spend some of your "hard earned" money on some self defense lessons...quit bothering the rest of the world with your petty issues.

[Bill]

This freak needs to get a life... A real one. Perhaps an overnight 'mental observation' is also in order.

[andrew]

o, poor baby.

[David]

Perez Hilton is an embarrassment to himself and to society. The less we are forced to read or hear about him the better.

[Stacy]

Don't meddle with folks called the "Black Eyed" Peas! Get over it, Perez. You are scum and yeah, you deserved to have your @$$ handed to you. Too bad it wasn't Prejean that got to do the honors!

[steve]

I'd punch him too he's a snivelling little weasel and that picture only makes me wish someone would punch him again.

[Sands]

LOL... If anyone in this world deserved to be punched,it is Hilton..

[sled dog]

I'm sorry, but this was an event that was going to happen sooner or later...the only question was "when?". Obnoxious, demeaning, catty, bullying Perez Hilton finally got pushed back.

If Perez is such an advocate for free speech, why did he come done so heavy on Carrie Prejean? He feels he should be able to say what he wants with no repercussions, but when she shared her beliefs he unloaded on her. HYPOCRISY!

Sadly, this is what often happens when you seek to make a career out of being a jerk. It's as if he egged these guys on to do something, and when they did he wants to cry foul.

[Bbrad]

The guy uses the N word and only got punched, he's lucky very lucky... He makes his money hurting people now he wants to cry in the corner and sue people, whada wusssey!!!

[Robert]

I now LOVE the Black Eyed Peas. Rot in hell, perez.

[Tony]

Does this mean I can counter sue him for the emotional stress I have by seeing his face all over the news everyday... Come on what a waste of time to sue because you got hit and deserved it, if I tried to sue someone over a fight it would be thrown out and everyone would be laughing, this idiot needs to grow up, there are a lot more important things going on in the world than taking up others time to file a stupid lawsuit.....heck just give me the money he makes and I could put it to better use that would actually be a benifit to society.

[Julie]

Regardless of whether or not we like or agree with Perez Hilton, he doesn't deserved to be punched. No one does.

What's wrong with you people? Why does violence become an option? Something is incredibly wrong with our society if we think someone deserves physical abuse.

[Paul Scott, Australia]

Sorry, as much as I dislike some of the stuff Perez does, violence is never the answer. NEVER. He attacks with words, and should be attacked back in the same way. What is it with all you people thinking it was fine for him to be physically assaulted? I was hoping that period of American response to those you don't like was gone, but it seems to live on - even with LA Times readers. On the one hand, Perez Hilton exercises the first amendment, but on the other hand he "deserves" to be assaulted.

You guys just don't get it that people all around the world are confused by your quick endorsement of violence to address any situation you don't like with a violent response - even when the person/people/country being assaulted never assaulted you. That's not self-defence - that's bullying.

[Jeff]

One more punch and Perez will be symmetric!

[Pam]

Perez Hilton has done what to achieve "fame"? He's a blogger? He's a weirdo. Although I am a strong advocate for gay marriage, I thought his questioning of that vapid beauty contest woman was inapproporiate and weird. I mean, who in the hell is this freak? OMG who wouldn't want to punch him!

[Wag]

Since when are random, minor bar fights considered news?

[lizwetzel]

I can see now his assaulter Polo Molina filling out a job application..

Have you been convicted of anything - Yes
if Yes, explain : I slugged Mario Lavandera aka Perez Hilton 3 times

The Manager would shout : YOURE HIRED!!!

Man, I wish I were Polo.

[LA Blues]

You're right....I thought the jurisdiction is Toronto and LA....Who cares about these idiots going at it....We've got bigger and more important issues to address here in LA. The superior judge will toss this stupid lawsuit. Enough of this celebrity crap !!!!!

[Kyn H]

I think that Perez filed this lawsuit in order to try and gain back the dignity he "knows" he's lost because of the "chicken" way he handled this situation; the public has turned on him like a rabid dog! Like everyone else, I think he got what he got and now he wants to cry about it. I agree with Kenny M who said that he should file his case in Toronto. Perez Hilton is a "jerk" and now he has been exposed for the "fraudulent personality" that he is. This didn't turn out the way you thought it would, did it Perez?

[XXSMILESXX]

everyone should have the right to feel safe, and not be in fear for thier physical wellbeing.

having said that, no one can predict someones reaction to things hilton has wrote about them on the web. if he can be a bully with his pen, and write awful things about PEOPLE and draw genitals on peoples faces then he should be prepared to react when angry people come at him.

I believe that no one should act on their anger, physically. but this is the real world, and people are unpredicatable. And someone just might sock you in the face. ahaha

[CDEscamilla]

How about round 2? This guy will do anything for attentio and money.

[George]

Perez Hilton had it coming! I have no respect whatsoever for this person. He's an embarassment to the gay community.

[Boomchuck]

On another site it says that Perez is also suing based on his freedom of speech. Funny how that didn't seem to matter when it was Miss California's freedom of speech that was in question.

[The Apricot Avenger!!!!!]

A bully is getting bullied.

On his site, Perez Hilton called a 3 year old girl ugly.
Perez is used to bullying children, women, and civilized human beings. Perez is hateful (he goes above and beyond gossiping and is vulgar, cruel, and despicable!!!)

If he wants to live like a devil, then he needs welcome the HELL that he has created!!!!
And Perez Hilton looks as ugly as SIN!
How in the world, can he rip on ANYONE’S PHYSICAL APPEARANCE when he himself looks like this blob fish!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NOXa1CXNsxg/RvCgTHFAZ1I/AAAAAAAAAio/khkrjtvGejw/s400/blobfish.jpg

People who live in glass houses CANNOT throw stones!

PEREZ HILTON, THE ROOSTERS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!

SO DEAL WITH IT, PEREZ HILTON!!!

[Michael]

Mario should receive a thorough beating from someone every time her appears in public. The beating should be more severe if he gets near a microphone.

[Eric]

ha, ha, ha ... what a wimpy tart, a no talent loser gets what he deserves, hopefully this gets thrown out by the courts.

[superbenA2002]

I can't stand the SOB, but I would never punch him, especially if I was in Mr. Molina's situation. He is now facing either a maximum of 18 months or 5 years in a Canadian prison (I live in the USA), plus 6 more months in a US jail for a possible probation violation charge relating to a previous DUI arrest. NO idiot is worth spending one day in jail for. If I was there and he was getting on my nerves, I would exit the building, get into my rental car and leave.