Bristol Palin Sued for Reality Show Verbal Bar Brawl
June 14, 2012
Hot Topics
The heckler who confronted Bristol Palin at a Sunset Strip bar in 2011 is trying to have the last word. Talent manager Stephen Hanks, who famously called Bristol’s mom, VP hopeful Sarah Palin, “evil” and “a whore,” is suing the reality star and the Lifetime cable network for defamation.
Getty Images
Michael Gulden, Hanks’ lawyer, told the wire agency that the case was filed in federal court because his client is seeking more than $75,000. Scroll down to see the lawsuit!
Bristol had just finished riding the mechanical bull at Saddle Ranch nightclub when Hanks confronted her, hurling nasty names about her mother. The two went back and forth with Bristol, 21, asking if he was gay.
Hanks stated that having the footage aired on television is now causing emotional distress and invasion of privacy. He also accused Bristol of lying when she told In Touch that the incident played a role in her move back to Wasilla, Alaska, considering she had bought a house there two months before the fight.
"He has communicated with A&E regarding use of the footage, and they were non-responsive. He felt (filing the lawsuit) was all he could do to protects his rights," Gulden told Reuters.
The lawsuit aside, Bristol’s new show is gaining momentum. The 21-year-old, who once told “Extra’s” Jerry Penacoli that she would be “completely content working at my old doctor’s office, but I know that if I was still working there people would still be talking about me,” is giving viewers a glimpse of her life as a single mom.
She recently drew sympathy after one clip showed her crying and begging her sister Willow to stay with her in Southern California.
Share
Comments
I'd say she walked right into that one. I don't like the Palin's tactics, and they know what I'm speaking about. But her manager released her to the wolves without the knowledge,and power it takes to deal with idiots like him. Fire the manager, and hire a good lawyer.
If she's supposed to be filming, she can't feed into preditors. (which is what this guy is) She should have known he would go acedemy while the cameras are running. I don't like the Palins tactics, but she walked right into that one. Her manager should be fired for not talking her through these type people before the tape stated.
Why is this an issue at all? She should go back to Alaska. The Palin clan should all go back under the rock they came from. Why is she a spokes person for anything. Try showing a poor single woman trying to raise a child. That would be reality. And if she makes anything on that show, half of it should be Levi's. After all, their is a father, where ever theirs a mother. If that child is making money, that child's parents should split.And whatever happened to both parents agreeing that the child should be on T. V. at all. To Levi, do whatever Dr. Phil tells you to do to get your total parental rights.
How come this jerk can say anything he wants and as soon as Bristol replied, there's a defamation lawsuit. This guy sounds like a loser looking to make a quick buck. Leave the girl alone and find a real job.
This heckler has his head up his ass.. Money grabber,, Hope he gets dork!! the idiot!!
I don't understand why some people are writing about Bristol having plastic surgery or showing off. The artical is about an idiot looking for easy money after HE starting a fight with Bristol in a bar by verbally attacking her mother and just because she is talking about it he decides he'll sue. I don't care if you like the Palin's or not, this just isn't right. What if it were your daughter? Take away the name and maybe you can see this for what it really is.
Really? Get a life Stephen! I mean just because your political ideology is different from her mother's doesn't give YOU the right to defame her mother to Bristols face... then YOU are supposedly sooo offended and wanna sue for defamation?? Stop being to winey and mean-spirited and get a life!
Is this guy for real. Come on he's suppose to be a "Talent Agent" he didn't notice the cameras filming? Get a grip buddy you came up to her she didn't come up to you. I guess he's not having success with the "Talent agent" job he has. Good for Bristol for standing up for her mother she did what any good daughter would do and who is he to call her mother a whore. Please go back under your rock buddy and leave people alone. Anything for a quick buck. Find a real job so you don't have to sue people for something you started.
I feel sorry for this poor young girl. No matter what her mother is, it is a shame for her. I saw Paris Jackson on the Oprah show and she was so beautiful and mature for her age and I thought of this girl and the mess she has gone thru for being so young. Leave her alone and let her get on with some normal kind of a life, if that is possible. I see no need to follow her around and take pictures. I am more interested in seeing Paris as she grows up and what she decides to do.
Please take the Palin's off the air, all channels.
They wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit them. TMJ surgery??? What a joke.
Bristol had plastic surgery, period. It was NOT a necessary medical procedure.
But since her Mom can just make up stuff - I'm sure that Bristol thought that she could, also.
she is just trying to show off.i think she is doing it to keep mommy in the public eye.she probaly could not get a real job so she is trying to play people now
This guy is unbelievable! He verbally attacks Bristol in a bar (a public place) and now he is suing her for defamation. He was so proud of himself at first. Until he found out that this encounter was going to air on national television and he would be exposed as the lunatic he is. Bring it on, d-bag! This lawsuit is going nowhere. Ask Joe McGinniss.
I agree with Mimi. What a piece of work the guy is, huh? A big cry baby. I hope the girl turns around and sues the crap out of him for initiating such a frivolous suit.
Like mother, like daughter. Bristol is selling herself in any form or fashion just like Sarah, to make that money. She pays a ghost-writer to slap together blog entries on hot-button issues to shamelessly promote herself. Talk about some successful capitalists- all body and no brains. See how far they’re willing to go for the cash at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/06/ecstasy-of-sar...
He sounds like a real whiny baby. First, he's the one that provokes a verbal assault on a 21 yr. old girl in a bar and now he wants to sue her? He needs to crawl back in the hole he came out of.