Ap Photo/Perez Hilton; Alex Berline/BEImagesDid the Black Eyed Peas go boom-boom-pow on Perez Hilton?
Here's what we know for sure, per a spokesman for the Toronto police. There was an "altercation" around 3 a.m. local time at a downtown club, following the MuchMusic Awards (Hilton accompanied Lady Gaga; the Peas performed "Boom Boom Pow" and won the prize for Best International Group). Peas associate Polo Molina, 36, was arrested on a single count of assault and ordered to appear in court on Aug. 5. Police declined to ID the victim, but said he only suffered "minor injuries."
That's the official account right now. Hilton and Peas mastermind will.i.am have since posted dueling videos online to make their respective cases.
The online gossip hound (real name: Mario Lavandeira) kicked things off with a flurry of Twitter posts around 3 a.m., asking fans to call the cops on his behalf.
"I was assaulted by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and his security guards. I am bleeding. Please, I need to file a police report. No joke," he wrote.
The red alert not only prompted a surprise tweet from Miley Cyrus ("You are kidding right? Omgosh!") but also sent will.i.am online to create his own Twitter account to fire back.
"It isn't cool for someone to blame you and blast you with lies," the rapper tweeted.
Shortly afterward, will explained his version of events in a video posted on dipdive.com.
According to the rapper, the brouhaha began when the Black Eyed Peas attended an afterparty at a club called Ultra. While there, Fergie approached Hilton to ask if he had a problem with her. Perez allegedly fired back that he didn't like their new record, The E.N.D.
"It's one thing to tell your opinion and it's another thing to go overboard and be blatantly rude for no apparent reason," says will.i.am. "I don't even know what gives this guy the authority to be so rude like that."
will.i.am says he stood up for his "sister" and confronted Hilton: "You don't have to be disrespectful.' But that's all I said."
Things went downhill from there, per will.i.am, who claims the openly gay Hilton then tagged the MC with a homosexual slur. Will says some fans who witnessed the exchange got "all, like crazy" and "start[ed] some stuff," which accounted for how Hilton ended up bleeding.
In a follow-up video post, the 34-year-old Peas frontman says he heard about Hilton's tweets blaming will.i.am for the confrontation.
"This dude twists it and says that I assaulted him. When I was the one that came to him with respect and he was the one who called me a [f-----t] outside the club," will.i.am says.
"Whatever. I hit you, Perez? Come on, dude. I didn't hit you. I told you I didn't like the fact that you disrespected us. It's cool to have your opinion but dude, apparently you were bleeding outside the club...Sounds like someone wants mad attention and is not really concerned about his health.
"Shame on you. Shame on your behavior and that's just messed up. Peace."
Where's the love?
In his own scathing and typically over-the-top video response, Hilton argues will.i.am tried to intimidate him. The tearful Hilton also calls the rap star a "coward" and a "disgusting human being."
"Violence is never the answer. Ever. No matter what anyone says. Blood should never be drawn. Another person should never be hit. That's why people die," the blogger says. "I was standing my ground without being violent or physical."
Of his run-in with Fergie: "I was being honest and letting her have her moment. I'm a big boy. I dish it. I can take it."
He says the Peas were so offended that Molina, the group's tour manager, "clubs me in the eye...and punches me two or three times."
"I touch my eye and it was bleeding...I thought my eye was falling out of my head!" Hilton says. "It is unacceptable and talk about unprofessional."
Then he lets will.i.am have it.
"Really…F--k you. Because you f--king lied...And frankly, will.i.am, I'd have more respect for you if you hit me yourself."
(Originally published June 22, 2009, at 10:25 a.m. PT)