Perez Black-Eyed By A Pea

International News, By Joal, 25th June, 2009

We all know Perez Hilton has a big, sometimes dirty, mouth, but it seems he’s started using homophobic taunts to attack the stars.

Hilton, usually making others the centre of media attention, has this week drawn criticism from gay groups across the US. There is video evidence of Hilton, during an altercation between the blogger and the Black Eyed Peas in Toronto, being punched in the face and calling the band’s manager the big double ‘F’. And groups like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Gay Defamation are not happy.

“For someone in our own community to use [homophobic taunts] to attack another person by saying that it is ‘the worst possible thing that thug would ever want to hear’ is incredibly dangerous. It legitimises use of a slur that is often linked to violence against our community,” said GLAAD representative Rashad Robinson.

Perez at first defended the way in which he responded to the punch, insisting that it was a legitimate, non-violent response. He was the champion of our cause a few weeks ago when he put Miss California on the spot, but this week, Perez has said, “Clearly, I am not homophobic. Also, I am not nor have I ever claimed to be a spokesperson for the gay community.”

Initially calling for an apology from GLAAD, because he felt the group had unfairly ‘victimised’ him, the famous online satirist has come full circle in what seems a very double-edged apology of his own.

“Words can hurt. I know that very well, from both sides of the fence. 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. I wanted to hurt him with the word I chose, not anyone else. Unfortunately, the one who got hurt was me and, subsequently, a lot of other people,” Perez wrote on his blog.

GLAAD released a second statement in response to Perez’s apology:

“Perez Hilton’s acknowledgment that words can hurt is an important step in the right direction, and while his change of tone is welcome, he still seems to be justifying the use of the slurs.

“A statement that stops short of apologising for and disavowing the use of that slur doesn’t get us where we need to be – these are vulgar anti-gay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and intolerance that continues to put our community in harm’s way. When someone from our community uses a far-reaching media platform to promote these kinds of slurs, it sends a message that it’s OK to use these dehumanising words.

“This is an important moment. Now that Perez Hilton has acknowledged that words can hurt, GLAAD calls on him to take this opportunity to reflect on his use of demeaning and defamatory language against many different communities on PerezHilton.com – not as Perez Hilton, but as Mario Lavandeira, an openly gay man who just went through a scary and traumatic experience.”

Will.I.am’s manager was charged with assault immediately following the incident.

Watch Perez recount his version of events here: