Perez Hilton sues Black Eyed Peas manager (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Perez Hilton struck back Wednesday with a civil lawsuit filed against the Black Eyed Peas manager accused of hitting him outside a Toronto nightclub.

The celebrity blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, sued the Peas' road manager in Los Angeles for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He is seeking unspecified damages of more than $25,000.

The suit states Hilton is seeking to protect his rights to free speech and claims Polo Molina attacked him because he made critical comments about the Black Eyed Peas' new album. Molina was arrested in Toronto early Monday after he allegedly punched Hilton following a heated argument between the blogger and Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am.

An e-mail sent to the group's publicist was not immediately returned Wednesday. Molina is due to appear in court Aug. 5.

"Perez Hilton was assaulted by the band's road manager because he would not agree to stop writing about the Black Eyed Peas on his Web site Perezhilton.com," Bryan Freedman, Hilton's lawyer, said in a statement. "Whether you love Perez or hate him, he is entitled to his freedom of speech without fear of physical violence. This lawsuit will make the statement that violence is never the answer."

The lawsuit details the events leading up to Molina's alleged attack on the blogger.

The complaint states Black Eyed Peas vocalist Fergie approached Hilton on Saturday and asked why he was writing "mean" things about her and the group. Hilton replied that he was "simply being honest and truthful about his opinions of them," according to the lawsuit.

On Sunday, Hilton claims he was pushed by an unidentified member of the Black Eyed Peas' entourage, who "slammed his shoulder into Hilton's shoulder and thereafter pushed him."

The lawsuit claims Fergie again approached him at an afterparty for the MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday night and that his argument with will.i.am happened at another party. The lawsuit claims the blogger was trying to leave that party when Molina punched him at least three times.

"Lavandeira sustained injury to his eye and was bleeding as a result of this violent and malicious attack," the lawsuit claims.

His damage claims include medical costs and damages due to "humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress." The lawsuit also claims that Molina is on probation in California for a drunken driving conviction under his real name, Liborio Molina.

Hilton, who is openly gay, said Monday that he called will.i.am a "faggot," a gay slur, inside the club after the musician told the blogger not to write about his band on his Web site.

He posted about the attack on the popular microblogging site Twitter on Monday, and has since rejected a call by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to apologize for using the term.

The Black Eyed Peas' newest album, "The E.N.D," has proved popular, ranking No. 1 on last week's Billboard magazine's charts for R&B/Hip-Hop albums. Singles from the album have also proved popular in other rankings.

Beastie Boys pouring "Hot Sauce" on September 15 (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) – The Beastie Boys have confirmed that their eighth studio album, "Hot Sauce Committee Part 1," will be released September 15 by Capitol.

The set will include 17 tracks, including "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" featuring Santigold and "Too Many Rappers" featuring Nas, which the artists performed together at the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn. on June 12. The album will be available in multiple configurations, including a 5.1 surround mix.

The first Beastie Boys headline date confirmed to follow the album's release, September 24 at Hollywood Bowl, has sold out. Further dates are pending.

Meanwhile, the trio has a busy summer ahead on the U.S. festival circuit, with headlining slots at events including Lollapalooza, All Points West, Outside Lands, and Austin City Limits. Prior to the Lollapalooza appearance, the Beastie Boys will perform at Chicago's Congress Theater on August 6.

The Beasties have also announced they will release a remastered and expanded version of the 1998 album "Hello Nasty," available as a 2-CD/vinyl box set beginning with an August 17 pre-order/digital release. The set will be in stores August 25.

(Editing by Dean Goodman at Reuters)

Reality romance cursed? Check out the track record (AP)

In case you live under a boulder, Jon and Kate Gosselin of TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" are splitting up. The Gosselin divorce, after 10 years of marriage and eight kids, is nothing new in the world of reality TV, where romances have crumbled on — and off — camera. Here's a look at some other notable breakups:

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NICK LACHEY AND JESSICA SIMPSON: This golden couple became household names on MTV's "Newlyweds," playing the role of adoringly patient husband and adorably ditsy wife. They became tabloid fodder as their 3-year marriage soured, rumors of infidelity swirled and fans cried, "We want the truth!" In a crude awakening for those who believe in "reality" love, Simpson filed for divorce in late 2005.

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JASON MESNICK AND MELISSA RYCROFT: Mesnick flipped fans' worlds upside when he dumped winner Rycroft for the runner-up, Molly Malaney. Rycroft moved on to "Dancing With the Stars" — a giant leap forward for her celebrity status. She can also take pleasure in rewatching the unintentionally hilarious "Bachelor" scene in which Mesnick sobs dramatically over a balcony. You dodged a bullet there, Melissa.

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HULK AND LINDA HOGAN: After three seasons, the VH1 series "Hogan Knows Best" ended for good in 2007 as the wrestler's family life took a dark turn. Supposedly, the Hulk cheated on Linda, who slapped down divorce papers and promptly began dating a 19-year-old version of her husband. Daughter Brooke Hogan has since gotten out the house — and her own reality show/trainwreck "Brooke Knows Best."

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DAVE NAVARRO AND CARMEN ELECTRA: OK, this union seemed built to last — and not because rocker Navarro and hottie Electra documented their wedded bliss for an MTV show called "`Till Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave." But because they seem like good people who could make it work (despite their rocky romantic track records). Sadly, they called it quits in 2006 after more than two years of marriage.

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COUNT AND COUNTESS DE LESSEPS: This split happened off camera but grabbed gossip headlines. Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, one of the cast members on Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York," confirmed her separation from Count Alexandre de Lesseps in March, something the catty series didn't catch. After 16 years on wife duty, the Countess-turned-etiquette author will keep her title and, presumably, her dignity.

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HEF AND THE "GIRLS NEXT DOOR": Hugh Hefner had three times the heartache last year when his closest girlfriends — Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson, who now has a bunny in the oven — dumped him and moved on to other opportunities. The Playboy mogul has since replaced them with 19-year-old twins and a busty blonde named Crystal.

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PAT AND BILL LOUD: 1973's "An American Family" has been regarded as the granddaddy of reality TV, when son Lance Loud came out of the closet before millions. But it was really a documentary, and as the 12-part series unfolded, viewers caught the very public dissolution of a marriage. Pat, cold as steel, informed her cheating husband Bill that she was divorcing him.

Neighbor sues over Rihanna's LA house (AP)

LOS ANGELES – A man claims in a lawsuit that Rihanna isn't being a good neighbor.

Christian Moeller on Tuesday sued the 21-year-old pop singer and Stephen Yacobian, who owns the house she rents in Los Angeles. Moeller's lawsuit claims cars routinely park or wait on his property, including cars used by Rihanna.

Moeller also claims a security camera installed at the home in the Hollywood Hills points onto his property.

An e-mail sent to Rihanna's publicist was not immediately returned. Yacobian says the lawsuit is "without merit" but wouldn't comment further until he speaks to his attorney.

Moeller is seeking unspecified damages for trespass, invasion of privacy and other claims.