A Toronto photographer was on hand Monday to capture the MuchMusic Video Awards after-party scuffle that left celebrity blogger Perez Hilton with a black eye.
The picture, submitted anonymously to Canadian gossip blog drinktheglitter.com, appears to show the exact moment when Hilton was hit in the face.
After a confrontation with Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am at a downtown Toronto club, Hilton left and was allegedly attacked by the group's manager, Liborio Molina.
Molina turned himself in to police and was charged with one count of assault. He was released with a promise to appear in court in Toronto on Aug. 5. In the meantime, he is able to continue touring with the band, which is slated to appear next at a concert in Norway on July 2.
Hilton – who posted details of the incident as well as a plea to fans to call police on his Twitter page – persists in publicizing the fight by sharing links to violence-prevention sources on his website, and entering into a protracted Tweet-off with singer-songwriter John Mayer about whether or not he deserved to be hit.
Hilton is now also under fire from The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, who are asking that the blogger apologize for calling Will.i.am a “faggot” during their argument.
In contrast, Will.i.am, who created a Twitter account on Monday just so he could post a link to his own video retort, has since been silent. The Black Eyed Peas have not released an official statement.
