Tuesday, November 4, 2008

And The Winner Is...



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Not us, if Michelle Obama does not get herself a stylist. Quick!

I make it a habit not to discuss politics here, although, I did think it was important that everyone should get out there and vote. And it was great to see that this election brought out the voters big time. But...

I have to say that I was horrified by our soon-to-be First Lady's dress tonight. That was NOT an acceptable outfit for the First Lady of the United States of America. What was that anyway? Why didn't someone stop her? I can appreciate the fact that she wanted to some how match her daughter's outfits but with THAT dress? Noooooo! Somebody needs to get in there and help her out. Send in the Style Emergency crew STAT!

On the other hand, Malia and Natasha (Sasha) looked beautiful and their dresses were adorable.


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Photo credit: Getty Images

A Family Who Votes Together...



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Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, took their son James Wilkie with them to cast their votes at the polls in New York City today. They are a cute family, aren't they?


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Photo credit: INF Daily

Today Is The Day!




If you have not already done so, get out there and vote! And then go home and thank God that this election is almost over. No more proposition commercials, no more crazy people sharing their insane political opinions, and no more election coverage on TV...after today of course. Woo hoo! Thank God!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Part Deux



Here's another one. My mon ami put this one together a few years back and just sent it to me per begging him for it. C'est très magnifique! I hope you like it too.





"Torrey Canyon" by Serge Gainsbourg, as applied to the Godard film "Band Of Outsiders" (Bande A Part)

J' taime 1960's Frenchies



I could watch this stuff for hours...


France Gall - 1968


Friday, October 31, 2008

Holding My Breast...




You many have noticed that I, Dear Gabby, have disappeared for most of the month of October. There is a reason for that. In light of it being Breast cancer ( the c word does not deserve to be capitalized) Awareness Month and because of the whole thing with Christina Applegate being diagnosed with breast cancer, I decided to get my first mammogram. It was not a pleasant experience. They tell you to put your arm here, put your hand here, face your feet this way, turn the top of your body that way, keep your head up, hold your other boob this way, don't move, and then pull-smash-crank-clamp-don't breathe...OUCH!

Not fun, but I was happy that I was doing it and happy that I was getting it over with. On the way out of the office, the receptionist said, "See ya next year!" I was happy yet again to hear those 4 little words as I thought I would not have to endure this again for a whole year. Yes!

And then the next day, I get a voicemail from the Breast Center saying that I need to call them back. I didn't like that message but I figured that maybe they needed more insurance information or something like that. I called back right away and they said that I needed additional scans on my right breast. That didn't sound so good so I called my mom who was having drinks with a couple of friends and both of her friends said that they too had had to go back for more scans on occasion. This made me feel better.

The next available appointment that they had was on my birthday. I politely declined that appointment. For one thing, I was planning on spending my birthday in Palm Springs and the other thing was I didn't want to have my right breast scanned on my birthday! So, I had to wait another week for the second mammogram.

I went in and they told me that they had seen "something" in my right breast. Cancer runs in my family. Not breast cancer but cancer none the less, so that is not something that a girl wants to hear...EVER. They pulled and squished my boob again and stuck me in a different room while the doctor looked over the results. The results were that the doctor wanted me to go back in the mammogram room to get pulled and squished some more. Then I was sent back into the (waiting/examining) room again so that the doctor could review the results, all the while wearing a pink poncho that ties in the front. The nurse came back again and told me that this time I was getting an ultrasound. So, off I went in my pink poncho to get the ultrasound. After the ultrasound, the nurse left me on the table and placed a towel over my boob before she left the room. By now you would think that I would be hyperventilating or sobbing, but I wasn't doing either. I was comfortably numb.

The mysterious doctor who I had yet to lay eyes on up until this moment, walked into the room and started doing another ultrasound. While he was doing this, he was asking me questions about my right breast. "Have you ever had surgery?" No. "Have you ever had a biopsy?" No. "Have you ever had radiation?" No. "You've never had any surgery?" NO.

In between all of this, he is all, blah blah blah to the nurse in a language that I don't understand. The medical language. So at this point, I interrupt them and say WHAT DO YOU SEE? He said, "I don't see a mass and I don't see a nodule, but I see a breaking of the tissue which looks like scar tissue." This makes me feel good and sick to my stomach at the same time because after all, he does see something and he is concerned. He then tells me that he will call my doctor and decide if I should have an MRI or if I should get a biopsy. I'm hoping for the MRI because as much as I want to know and get this over with, I'm also not crazy about a needle going into my boob!

Two days later my doctor calls and says that I'm getting an MRI. An hour later, one of her people calls me and says that she now wants me to see a breast specialist. I of course, think that there is hidden meaning in all of this. Why did her person call me back? Why am I now seeing a breast specialist? WHY? WHY? WHY?

So, I took a chill pill and called the specialist...4 days later. I know what you're thinking, but it took me a while to chill. I needed to sit with it for a few days. When I finally did call, I got an appointment for November 11. That was the soonest they had, until yesterday when I got a call from them. They said that they had a cancellation and could get me in on November the 5th. This was good news but it was also terrible, awful, awful news. Why did they call ME when they got the cancellation??? I didn't ask them to do that. Do they need to get me in there fast???? Was I 1st on the cancellation list???? What's up with that???!!! WHY? WHY? WHY?

To say the very least, I have been completely paranoid and on edge this month...holding my breath. Every time I see Christina Applegate on TV or anywhere else, I think it's a sign. She had breast cancer and there she is so I must have breast cancer too. And then I tell myself to CUT THE CRAP AND CHILL THE FUCK OUT!

So, that's what I've been doing this month. I lost my shit for a while but I am getting it together and re-entering the Earth's atmosphere now. No more hiding. I'm cutting the crap and chilling the fuck out. One moment at a time.

I'll let you know what happens on Wednesday after visiting the breast specialist. If you would, say a little prayer for me:)

Monday, October 20, 2008

Party At Borat's House



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Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher threw a BBQ birthday party for their daughter, Olive, over the weekend for her first birthday.


All of Olive's closest friends were there including: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, and newlyweds Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.

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No sign of the Jen's on-again-world's-best-schmucky-boyfriend, John Mayer. He was busy blogging about her.


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Photo credit: INF Daily

Sunday, October 19, 2008

R.I.P. Mr. Blackwell




The man who created the annual "Worst-Dressed List," Mr. Blackwell, has died.


Mr. Blackwell began his career in fashion during the 1950's with his own clothing line business that he had for 35 years. By the 60's, he had become one of the top designers in Los Angeles, dressing clients like Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour, Jayne Mansfield, Peggy Lee, Nancy Reagan and Corretta Scott King.


Blackwell's notorious list wasn't only targeted at actors and singers as he would also go after the Royals. He named Camilla Parker-Bowles "The Duchess of Dowdy."


Even though his list wasn't one that anyone would particularly want to be on, if you did make the list, at least it meant that you were famous.


Blackwell's health had been failing recently. His publicist, Harlan Boll, said that Mr. Blackwell had died Sunday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to complications from an intestinal infection. He was 86 years old.


Here is a little advice that Mr. Blackwell left us with: "Dressing well really IS the best revenge!"


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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Divorce Details Already Negotiated



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It has only been two days since Madonna announced that she and Guy Ritchie were getting a divorce and true to Madonna style, a lot has already happened.


First off, Madonna made a not-so-subtle reference to her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Guy, when on the same day of the announcement, she performed a show in Boston and dedicated the song "Miles Away" to the "Emotionally Retarted." She then added, "Maybe you know some people who fall into that category. God knows I do."


Guy's father, John Ritchie, responded to her on-stage comments by saying, "She is being beastly. She's calling him an emotional retard. When he's being bashed by her it's horrid."


The last straw in their marriage is said to have been when Madonna made Guy decide if he would leave London to move to New York. He chose not to and that was it. The gloves came off.


Guy immiedietly made it known that he did not want a dime from Madonna. He just wanted their kids (or at least their son Rocco) to remain in London. Madonna on the other hand, wants all three of her kids, Lourdes, Rocco and David with her in New York. It looks like Guy won't be putting up a big fight on the custody front though, as she would most likely win that battle in court. He will probably go along with the idea of the kids living a New York/London life as long as he has full access to the kids.


And now The Sun is saying that the couple's divorce is already settled, aside from the kids. Guy will be getting their 1,200 acre country estate, their London pub The Punchbowl and a cash settlement to cover their London properties. Total value will be around $60 million. I'd say that is a little more than a dime but who's counting?


A source said, “The negotiations were relatively painless. Guy knew what he wanted and Madonna knew what she was keen to keep. There was a spell when Guy was in a mood to dig his heels in, but he decided this arrangement seemed reasonable and a long battle over money would make life unbearable.”


Considering that they didn't have a pre-nup, Madonna got real lucky.


As for who will get custody of the kids, that remains to be seen. But they are expected to reach a compromise.


In the meantime, Guy is planning on getting his groove on with the ladies. The source said, “Guy has always been very popular with women. They have thrown themselves at him throughout his marriage but he has always been utterly faithful. Now it’s all over he plans to have a little fun — something that has been missing from his life for far too long.”


I'm sure that there are an endless amount of chicks out there who would like to sleep with the man who's been sleeping with Madonna for the past ten years. Mythology baby.


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Back In L.A.



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Kate Hudson and her 4 year-old son Ryder were seen arriving at LAX from London on Friday.

She had been in London working on the film "Nine," also starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Dame Judi Dench, and Fergie.

Kate, who takes her fashion seriously, fully embraced the "bold" look of the Fall season by cramming as much jewelry that she could fit onto her left arm.


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Photo credit: INF Daily

Friday, October 17, 2008

A Good Day For A Stroll



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Michelle Williams and her daughter, Matilda Ledger, were out enjoying a beautiful Fall day in NYC today. How adorable is this little Stinkerbell?


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Photo credit: BauerGriffin.com

Huh?



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Lindsay Lohan had this to blog about. Personally, I have a question for you but I'll wait until after you've read what she wrote.


all grown up and .. an outsider for some nights..

all grown up and .. an outsider for some nights..
How does it feel to be an outsider?....behind the scenes type of feeling.
Picture this in your head, if you're willing to focus for a second my friends ;)
Washington, D.C.- you're probably thinking that you are going to a monument of some sort... well, you're highly wrong loves....
Washington, D.C.-you're in a club, you are here for support for someone that you care for very much, VERY MUCH.. But, you're here just to chill and support, not to be seen and heard... Not to be on display in the dj booth...or to feel as if you are in a cage at the Bronx Zoo...
Do you see what i am getting at???
Alright, so i am literally sitting in the dj booth at a club in Washington, D.C. where Samantha is djing and they have a computer at the back of the booth, which i am on right now..
aside from the fact that she is an amazing dj and i am having a nice time, the glass mirror placed to my left to hide me from photos (literally) is making it all a bit uncomfortable!!!

This blog isn't really intended to mean much, it's just something to let people into my life-kind of a blog to let people know that i am working hard and i go out when samantha is working because she's pretty great to hear and i love to be around her and her energy as much as possible.

Sitting here makes me think about the fact that if Sarah Palin was in office, and living in Washington.. On a "slow" night, she would probably be dressing as one of the gossip girls or tina fey to try and "be cool" enough to get into this club.

I guess me thinking, and blogging about her gives her more attention and credit than she actually deserves.. but as Madonna says. "Express Yourself"

so.... i will
now and forever
be blessed
xx L


OK, so here is my question. What in the HELL is she rambling about?????


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Photo credit: Splash News Online

Travis Gives An Update



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Travis Barker posted a little update on his MySpace page and it looks like he's healing up pretty well.

He said:

"Just another quick one to let everyone know that I think Im getting out of the hospital soon :) I can't wait to get out of here and be home with the babes. The doctors say Im healing up quickly and I'm gonna be out of here b4 you know it."

Travis also mentioned that he received a special delivery from his favorite restaurant Matsuhisa. Travis has good taste because that is one of the best restaurants. Pun intented.

On hospital life, Travis says that "The staff here is THE BEST," but he flipped the bird at hospital life in general. Can't blame him one bit.

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Photo credit: via Myspace



Thursday, October 16, 2008

A Bit Of Palm Springs Keeps The Spring In Your Step



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I took a little break and headed out to Palm Springs for my birthday. I put my computer away and it did just fine without me. The weather was perfect and it was exactly what my crew and I needed...a little fun in the sun and maybe a Piña Colada...or three.


Apparently, everyone decided to get a divorce while I was gone so I'm back to blog about it!


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Friday, October 10, 2008

I WANT YOU!



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I want to see YOU! Send me a photo of YOU having YOUR favorite ROCK STAR MOMENT or a photo of YOU having your favorite MODEL MOMENT and I will post a new one every day or week or month...depending on how this goes. Meaning, if anyone actually sends me some photos.


I know you're out there and I want to see YOU at your finest so come on, start sending them in. Don't make me beg. OK? Forget it. I'll beg. PRETTY PLEASE!!!

Send them to hollywoodhillslife@gmail.com I'm waiting...

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Thursday, October 9, 2008

Marathon Man Ryan




Newlywed Ryan Reynolds, who was recently married to Scarlett Johannson in Canada, is planning on running his first marathon.


He is not a fan of running, getting out of bed at the crack of dawn, feeling the burn in his lungs or having his nipples bleed. But he is planning on showing up on November 2nd, to run 26.2 miles in the New York City Marathon none the less.


So why is he doing it then? For his dad, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease. Ryan is trying to raise money and awareness for the disease.


He wrote a pretty heartfelt letter about it that you can read here.


Good luck Ryan! I've been there and its not easy but SO worth it.


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Angelina In W



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I know that I say this every other day but the woman is stunning. And no, I'm not a switch hitter. But for Angelina Jolie??? Hmmm. Well maybe. Juuuust play'n.


The photographer was her partner, Brad Pitt, who shot private photos for the next issue of W magazine this summer at the French chateau they were living in. Could she look any more peaceful and content in this photo?


You can see the tiny hand of one of the twins that she was breastfeeding. So sweet.


In the interview, Angie shared her thoughts on never wanting to have biological children and how Brad changed her mind on that.


She said, "I think one of the life changing things that he did, one of many, is that I was absolutely never going to get pregnant. I never felt that it was the right thing to do."


Seeing Brad with adopted children Maddox and Zahara, changed her view: "I knew that he would never see them as different, and that gave me a certain peace.


I suppose I just looked at him and loved him and just felt open to [getting pregnant]. I suddenly wanted to. It's one of those things you can't explain.


I'm just a mom and I'm very grounded by my family. I'm very happy, and I'm so lucky.


The world can like me, hate me, fall apart around me, and at least, you know, I wake up with my little kids and I'm happy."


And that's an excellent attitude to have.


Angie also talks about the fact that she is with a man who appreciates the changes that go on in a woman's body.


She said, "I'm with a man who's evolved enough to look at my body and see it as more beautiful, because of the journey it has taken and what it has created.


He genuinely sees it that way. So I genuinely feel even sexier."


That's cuz he's a Missouri boy Angie. They get it.


The Jolie-Pitt's who were in the US for about a week to promote Angie's film "The Changeling," have since headed back to Europe.


The family of eight was seen arriving at the airport in Nice, France on Wednesday.


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Let's Go To The Movies



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A few interesting and random facts that you may not know about Hollywood and Motion Pictures.








Fact #1

Hollywood got its name from a man named Hobart Johnstone Whitley, known as "The father of Hollywood" and his wife Gigi, who coined the name Hollywood while on their honeymoon in 1886. Whitley, one of the nation's most succesful land developers, motivated the movie industry to move to his new town of Hollywood. Aren't we glad he did?


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Random Fact:

H.J. Whitley died in 1931 at the Whitley Park Country Club near Hollywood. He was buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetary and his gravestone reads "The Father of Hollywood."

Fact #2

The first motion picture ever to be made was called "The Horse In Motion." In 1878, Eadweard Muybridge accomplished this by using multiple (24 to be exact) cameras and assembling the individual pictures into a motion picture. Muybridge was commissioned by Leland Stanford (California governor/ Stanford University) to scientifically answer a popularly debated question during this era - are all four of a horse's hooves ever off the ground at the same time while the horse is galloping? The answer was yes. Muybridge's time-motion photography proved they indeed were, and the idea of motion photography was born.







Random Fact:

Four years before Muybridge completed this historic break-through, he discovered that his wife had a lover, Major Harry Larkyns. Muybridge went looking for his wife's lover and when he found him he said, "Good evening, Major, my name is Muybridge and here is the answer to the letter you sent my wife." He then killed the major with a gunshot.

Muybridge was put on trial for murder, but was acquitted as a "justifiable homicide."


Fact #3

The phrase "silver screen" comes from the fact that genuine silver was embedded into the material used for movie screens. Real silver was also used to make film for many years.


Fact #4

The first hotel that was built in Hollywood was the Glen-Holly Hotel. It sat at the corner of Yucca Street which today is really kinda yucca.


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Fact #5

The first movie studio was established in 1911 and was named Nestor Studios. The studio was located at the corner of Sunset Bloulevard and Gower Avenue. An advantage for its location was that the weather in California made it possible to film year round. Nestor Studios later merged with other studios to become Universal Studios.


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Random fact:

Every week the studio pumped out a Western picture single reel, a Dramatic picture single reel and a single reel of the popular "Mutt and Jeff" comedy.


Fact #6

The Hollywood "Walk Of Fame" was created in 1958 to give Hollywood one of its first face-lifts. It was designed by Southern Californian artist Oliver Weismuller. When first created, there were 2,500 blank stars. The walk begins at Gower Avenue and ends at La Brea Avenue. The walk is about 3 1/2 miles round trip.


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Random Fact:

The first star ever to be awarded was on February 9, 1960 and the recipient was Joanne Woodward.

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Fact #7

The HOLLYWOOD sign was created in 1923. The sign originally read as HOLLYWOODLAND. Its purpose was to advertise a new housing development in the hills above Hollywood. The Hollywoodland developers advertised the area as a "superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills." Wow. If that were only true today! The land developers only meant for the sign to stay up for about a year or so. It was not intended to be permanent. After the rise of the American cinema in Los Angeles, it became an internationally recognized symbol and was left there.

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Random fact:

The HOLLYWOODLAND sign became so associated with Hollywood that in 1932, actress Peg Entwistle committed suicide by jumping to her death from the letter "H." She saw the sign as a symbol of an industry that had rejected her.

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Fact #8

The very first Academy Awards ceremony was on May 16, 1929. It was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and 250 people attended. The nominees were not sitting on the edge of their seats like they are today waiting to hear who won because the winners names had already been released to the press 3 months earlier.

Random Fact:

The very first person to receive an Academy Award didn't attend the first Academy Awards ceremony. Emil Jannings, the winner for best actor, had decided to go back to his home in Germany before the ceremony. Before he left for his trip, Jannings was handed the very first Academy Award.

Fact #9

Clark Gable was paid $4,500 a week to play Rhett Butler in "Gone With The Wind." It was reported this week that Johnny Depp is being offered $55 million to reprise the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean," the highest amount an actor has ever been paid for a single movie. Do the math.


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Fact #10

Marlon Brando couldn't get out of his seat fast enough to run up to the stage to receive his first Oscar in 1973 for Best Leading Role in "On The Waterfront.," But in 1973, when he won his second Best Leading Role Oscar for "The Godfather,," he not only didn't show up be he refused to accept the award. He sent a female American Indian in his place to explain his reasoning; Marlon felt that Hollywood had portrayed and treated American Indians poorly. Kind of ironic for a man who was receiving an award for his portrayal of an Italian gangster. A few American Italians may have had a problem with that.


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See video here of those Oscar moments:

Marlon Accepting the Oscar

Female American Indian Declining the Oscar for Marlon

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Gwynie & The Olsen Twins Take To The Sky Together



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You just never know who you'll run into at the airport. The Olsen twins bumped into Gwyneth Paltrow at Heathrow Airport today and all three were bundled-up and headed for New York. It's hard to imagine seeing people all wrapped up in layers considering it's still blazing f*cking hot here in Los Angeles.


By the look on her face, Gwyneth seemed to get a kick out of the twins who had been in London to promote their new clothing line, The Row.

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Don't they have enough money yet? How many lines have they had already? Remember all that kiddie merch?


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The Row. A short video showing the collection and what its like for a woman to decide what she's going to wear when she has PMS.





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Photo credit: FlynetOnline.com

Butler Puts Smackdown On Paparazzi



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Apparently Gerard Butler just isn't gonna take any more paparazzi crap. TMZ reported that Butler allegedly hauled off and popped an un-named paparazzi in the kisser at 2 AM on Tuesday morning.


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Photo credit: Courtesy of TMZ, INFdaily.com


The paparazzi hound says that he began following Gerard when Gerard was leaving Crown bar and got into his limo. He claims that Butler's limo soon pulled over with Butler getting out to approach the pap hound who was in his car. At that point, the pap hound claims that Butler asked him why he was following him. Pap hound responded by saying, "Hey, that's my job." The pap hound then claims that Butler reached in his, car grabbing the paps throat and punched him three or four times-- closed fisted.


There are now witnesses who have come forward to tell a different story. The sources say that the pap hound was following Gerard for hours. They also say that the hound was driving "recklessly" as he "chased" Butler's limo, almost injuring several pedestrians.


The pap hound says that he did not put anyone in danger. And of course he would say that.


The witnesses say that after Butler socked the pap in the face, the pap continued to follow Butler for an hour.


Sources also say that the pap contacted a civil lawyer before going to police.


Just a word of advice...It's never a good idea, no matter how much someone provokes you, to get involved in any altercations that could possibly involve the police when you are on foreign soil. Gerard is a Scotland native.

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