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Woody Harrelson Chokes Paparazzi Cameraman on Hollywood Street... and it's caught on video

Amused

Amused

Elite Member
See the two videos here:

http://www.tmz.com/2006/06/30/harrelson-chokes-tmz-photog-lapd-investigates

Harrelson Chokes TMZ Photog -- LAPD Investigates
Posted Jun 30th 2006 4:46PM by TMZ Staff
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paparazzi Video, Movies

Woody Harrelson choked TMZ cameraman Josh Levine late Thursday night as he left a Hollywood nightclub, and the LAPD is conducting a criminal investigation.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. outside Element, a club frequented by celebrities. As Harrelson left with three women and two men, Levine and other photogs began shooting. Harrelson became irritated and asked Levine to stop shooting. Harrelson then walked over to Levine, put his hand on the camera and asked Levine to stop. Levine said "All I'm doing is my job." Harrelson, who appears in "A Prairie Home Companion," then said, "I've asked you to stop, are you going to stop?" and Levine replied, "Not when you ask me like that." The video then shows Harrelson break the camera and the picture goes dead.

TMZ obtained a second video, shot by another photog, showing the altercation. The photographer began shooting just as Harrelson grabbed Levine's neck. There is no audio in this portion of the tape.

After the incident, Levine was visibly agitated and argued with a man who appeared to be Harrelson's security guard. Then Levine flagged down an LAPD patrol car and told the two officers inside, "Hey bro, I just got assaulted by Woody Harrelson. He choked me out right now." A man standing near Levine added, "Yeah, I'm a witness." The police did not acknowledge Levine and simply drove away.

Harrelson's publicist, Ina Treciokas, told TMZ: "Unfortunately, this is not the first or last time the paparazzi have provoked an incident with a celebrity. Mr. Harrelson is evaluating all of his legal options against the photographer."

Levine went to LAPD's Hollywood division and filed a criminal complaint against Harrelson. The police have Levine's tape as evidence, and TMZ has given the LAPD a copy of the second tape. Levine, who suffered neck lacerations, was then taken by two officers to Cedars Sinai emergency room, where he was examined and released.

LAPD Detective John Padilla told TMZ the investigation is ongoing and "We're going to present it to the D.A.'s office" as early as today. Padilla added, "With the tapes and all, it's pretty good evidence." Padilla said vandalism and assault and battery charges could be filed against Harrelson.

 
There are paparazzi on earth who are so bored that they'll resort to shooting pics of Woody Harrelson? C'mon, these days the guy who cleans Urkel's pool is a bigger celebrity than Woody is.
 
Why is it that if I followed some random cute female around everywhere she went and took pictures of her, I'd be arrested for stalking. (And rightly so.) But, if I call it my job, it's okay??
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Why is it that if I followed some random cute female around everywhere she went and took pictures of her, I'd be arrested for stalking. (And rightly so.) But, if I call it my job, it's okay??
Click to expand...

In American, yes.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Why is it that if I followed some random cute female around everywhere she went and took pictures of her, I'd be arrested for stalking. (And rightly so.) But, if I call it my job, it's okay??
Click to expand...

Because when it's someone doing it for their job, you have a reasonable idea that you are not in danger of bodily harm.

But when someone does it for emotional reasons, you DO have that fear, and it is that fear that is the basis for Stalking laws.

Look here for the definition of stalking in one state's law:

http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/stalker.htm

What is the Stalking Law?

Under Iowa law as of July 1, 1994,"stalking" is a repeated course of conduct intended to cause fear of bodily injury or death to you or to a member of your immediate household.

What is the harassment law?

Under Iowa law as of July 1, 1994, "harassment" means personal contact with the intent to threaten, alarm, or intimidate you. Personal contact does not require physical contact and does not require a specific threat of bodily injury. Harassment also may be committed by telephone or written communication.
 
Paparazzi deserve whatever happens to them. If they were chasing me, and if I had a few million, one or two Paparazzi might get punched in the face if they were irritating me enough.
 
I think the papazzi and celebrities can co-exist without such altercation if and when the cameramen and photographers accept it and leave when a celebrity asks them to do so.
I doubt any celebrity is stupid enough to not know that it comes with the terrority but often you have guys who will go overboard and practically follow you every where you go. Even their kids.

Then again the industry pays tons of money for candid shots so there are people who are overly aggressive.

I don't condone attacking people, but I do believe the cameraman should've just stopped. Woody asked the guy several times.

celebrities do give up some reasonable expectation of privacy but not all. What exactly they do give up is up to a judge. some obvious ones they don't give up is being in their own home.

 
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