Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, Alex J. Berliner/BEImagesWhat's to do if GLAAD can't rely on Hollywood's self-proclaimed gossip queen to avoid the f-word?
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is none too pleased with blogger Perez Hilton for mixing a few anti-gay slurs into his diatribe against Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am.
"I don't need to respect you and you're a f-g. You're gay and stop being such a f----t," the openly gay Hilton said in a video blog response to reports of a fight between him and the hip-hop singer last night in Toronto.
"These are vulgar anti-gay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and intolerance toward our community," said Rashad Robinson, senior director of Media Programs at GLAAD. "For someone in our own community to use it to attack another person by saying that it is, quote, 'The worst possible thing that thug would ever want to hear,' is incredibly dangerous.
"It legitimizes use of a slur that is often linked to violence against our community. And it sends a message that it is OK to attempt to dehumanize people by exploiting anti-gay attitudes."
Hilton maintains that was was roughed up by Will.i.am and one of the Peas' security guards. Polo Molina, 36, has been charged with one count of assault and ordered to appear in court August 5.
The "Boom Boom Pow" singer said in his own video post that he did not hit Hilton, but rather was just coming to Fergie's defense, claiming the celeb-dirt shoveler had disrespected his bandmate.
"This dude twists it and says that I assaulted him," Will.i.am said. "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."
Now GLAAD is calling upon Hilton to admit to his mistake.
"We have reached out to Hilton and asked him to apologize for promoting this anti-gay slur, and we would ask media outlets to avoid repetition of the slur in their coverage of this story," Robinson said.
But it's not as if the GLAAD folk think, no matter how inappropriate Hilton's reponse, that the blogger deserved to get hit.
"While not all the facts in this case are known, the violence that appears to have been committed against Perez Hilton is unacceptable and ought to be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Robinson added.
There's been no response yet from Hilton, who Twittered earlier today that he was "honestly SHOCKED at the amount of people saying [he] deserved to be hit.
"Shame on you! NO. Violence is never the answer. NEVER."