Charges dropped in Perez Hilton case
TORONTO — Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina apologized to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton as part of an agreement allowing assault charges against him to be dropped, lawyers said Wednesday.
Molina allegedly punched Hilton from behind outside a Toronto nightclub after the openly gay blogger called Black Eyed Peas’ leader will.i.am a “faggot,” a slur for homosexuals.
Following the hearing, Molina’s lawyer Mark Sandler read the written apology outside court.
“I apologize for what I did on June 22 of 2009, even though you engaged in highly offensive comments … I acknowledge that these kinds of issues should not be resolved through a physical response,’ the apology read.
Hilton told The Associated Press in an e-mail he was happy Molina had accepted responsibility for his actions.
“I look forward to reading his letter of apology,” Hilton said in the e-mail.
Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, claims he got into an argument with band members Fergie and will.i.am inside the nightclub and was punched outside by Molina.
Shortly after the incident, the blogger posted the following message on the Twitter Web site: “I am bleeding. Please, I need to file a police report. No joke.”
Hilton’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said they were unhappy with the choice of words in Molina’s apology, but it was ultimately accepted.
Molina has also agreed not to contact Hilton except through his lawyer, not to carry any weapons for 12 months and not to come within 100 meters (100 yards) of the night club where the dispute took place.
He was also required to donate $500 Canadian (US$476) to charity.
“I think everything that needed to be said has pretty much been said,” Molina said as he left the courthouse. “Yes, I do regret the whole night.”
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