Perez Hilton Goes After Fellow Blogger For Defamation
Wed Apr 09, 2008 @ 10:03AM PSTPosted by Eriq Gardner
Perez Hilton may be cleaning up his act, but he could be spending so much time in court in coming months that he might need to hire some extra hands to help him with his blog.
Yesterday Hilton sued the former publicist for the Backstreet Boys, Jonathan Jaxson, for defamation. According to the complaint, Hilton (born Mario Lavandeira) says that Jaxson (born as Jonathan Lewandowski) spread false rumors about him to the New York Post and other media outlets.
The rumors entailed an agreement between the two pseudonymed bloggers wherein Perez would publicize Jaxson's blog (mission accomplished) and deliver juicy celebrity gossip in exchange for using Jaxson as a "personal porn service."
Hilton says that there was no agreement.
Last Wednesday, Jaxson published Hilton's personal phone number and told his readers that Perez "has hurt me and millions of others, because of this I think you should call him and let him know how you feel."
Hilton is suing for libel, slander, invasion of privacy, civil harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He is seeking punitive damages.
His lawyer is Bryan Freedman, who repped Hilton in his now-settled copyright infringement spat with paparazzi agency X17.