16. All I wanted to do was check what time a movie was playing in my neighborhood at moviefone.com, I get blurb that says “Woody Harleson attacks cameraman.” I watched both of the videos as well as this “hard hitting” editorial by Harvey Levin and it really symbolizes all that is wrong with the lowest common denominator in pop culture.

Cameraman (Josh Levine), TMZ, and AOL are the instigators here – Woody Harleson and the rest of sane America are the victims. Josh Levine’s attitude and behavior are despicable as is this website for so disingenuously trying to represent the opinions and interests of the American public.

I wish Harvey Levin could just go back to making his other great contribution to culture, the show “Celebrity Justice,” now that had some true relevance and importance. Hah!

If Josh Levine and Harvey Levin are making a living pilfering this crap on us, then somedays I think the terrorists are winning.

Posted at 7:42PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Ryan

17. What happened to photogs being professional? They are a bunch of vultures. I wonder how they sleep at night...

Posted at 1:14AM on Jul 2nd 2006 by Annie

18. hey guys.....you wouldn't be reading this post if it weren't for the paparatsos!
more power to the paparazzi! these spoiled brats celebs deserve it!

Posted at 1:27AM on Jul 2nd 2006 by maui b

19. These celebs that don't want theur picture taken should carry these little squirt guns filled with black paint and let them have fun squirting the photogs as they leave the bar; would be a fun way to burn off those extra calories AND get some cardio in chasing those jerks down the street....Latex paint only or there would be lawsuits for laundry bills and that would only make more money for those Goldstein and Horowitz attorneys.

Posted at 4:50AM on Jul 2nd 2006 by Irving Schwartz

20. Violence is violence, I hate to say. While it's true the photographer could have used some personal judgement on at least backing off, physical violence should NEVER be used but only as a last resort. I'm not against Woody calling this guy all kinds of bad names and stuff but he crossed the line when he physically attacked this young man. I've seen and heard both sides of the popparrazzi stories (Did I spell that right?) but nothing can condone the kind of physical attack that Mr. Harrelson inflicted on this person. This is where lawsuits come in very handy and hurray for cameras that catch the awful side of truth sometimes.
I know we're all human and want to be left alone but you can't have your cake and eat it, too. When you decide "Hey, I want to be a star" you have to take the bad with the good and getting video taped and photographed comes with the territory. It's been that way forever...or at least as long as Hollywoods' existed. So let the young man go, Mr. Harrelson...you asked for it and these guys can also be your friend when it comes to popularity. Just make sure it's not the wrong kind.

Posted at 9:40AM on Jul 2nd 2006 by AncientOne

21. "Levine was shooting video of someone who did not want to be videotaped.
Here's the deal. The club is a Hollywood hot spot, and any celeb who goes there knows the game going in and out.

The one thing I can tell you as a veteran TV reporter and lawyer, when people start touching my camera, it's a whole different Oprah. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
LOL.. what a hypocrite... here's my perspective.. you go to a Hollywood hotspot because you think you can ignore someone who "asks" you not to be videotaped and then cry foul if your camara is damaged.. It's ok for you to treat people with disrespect, but my goodness, you hide behind the law when receive the same treatment.

so here's the deal.. if you've been asked to refrain from taking the picture EXPECT to get your camera smashed.

Treat others like you want to be treated

Posted at 10:02AM on Jul 2nd 2006 by Steph

22. Harrelson asked PLEASE and Levine provoked the incident. I heard the audio and it's clear that the intent of this photographer was to irritate Harrelson and it worked.
Hey, it's the normal thing to do when encroached upon by someone else, you respond and Harrelson had even asked politely and said PLEASE but this jerk denied him his request and provoked the attack.
Had it been me, I'd have done the same with the camera. I don't know if I'd have choked the guy or not but I'd definitely have broken his camera to make it end there at least with that particular camera.
It's time the paparazzi take responsibility for their actions! When you violate a person's space, you're going to get a negative response. That's just a given and it doesn't take an Einstein to figure that one out.
Look at what running from the paparazzi did to Princess Diana. I think that pretty much covers what can happen to both parties when the paparazzi go too far.

Posted at 7:14PM on Jul 2nd 2006 by Min Burns

23. I am not aware of any statute that makes it illegal to photograph a "celebrity"
the term "celebrity" may be overbroad even undefinable. Surely, here we
must agree that the presence of Woody while somewhat interesting certainly
does not rise to the level of "celebrity". I think we should all acknowledge that
there are statutes that prohibit the behavior presented in the tape. Here, Choking is an assault one that it appears will be addressed in the civil courts since the
police were too busy too address the criminal behavior of Woody on Thursday
nite. Unless the choking was in self defense it is a crime. Woody from the tape
appears to be the aggressor walking what appears to be maybe 15-20 feet
toward the smaller framed cameraman and grabbing his neck. I think the
body guard later placed his hands on the cameraman in the tape.

Now the choke hold may be a reasonable and frequent activity in the Woody
household but it prohibited by law on the street.

Posted at 9:22PM on Jul 2nd 2006 by Kathie

24. Harvey: Why when it is one of your people attacked, or put on the spot, he is called a "photographer" or "cameraman," instead of what he REALLY is, a "paparazzi?" I read the NY Times piece on TMZ, and realized that you can only do so much damage control here. You are the paparazzi, and Warner Brothers is supporting it. I doubt Woody Harrelson will be doing anything with Warner Brothers, AOL, or People mag any time soon. They may not care, because Woody's career is about over, but the next fight could be with Brad Pitt, after Levine tries to snap intrusive pix of little Shiloh leaving the pediatrician's office.

Posted at 1:58PM on Jul 3rd 2006 by Danielle

25. Isn't Woody's father in prison for murder,guess he had a temper?? Woody better watch his temper.,

Posted at 12:33AM on Jul 4th 2006 by Lorrain Petrich

26. Celebs are fed up and I don't blame them. The paparazzi go way beyond what should be allowed. It should be illegal to photograph people when they are on their own property and it should also be illegal to take pictures/publish pictures of children without their parents conscent. If those rules existed maybe celebs who are in public would be less irate. I'm sure the photograhers that E.L. posted about deserved every beating they received. I'm sure most of them were baiting or verbally harrassing the celebs that smacked them around.

Posted at 9:48AM on Jul 4th 2006 by CNorth

27. TMZ is no better than ambulance chasers. TMZ may understand the letter of the law but there is more to being a decent human than just getting away with provoking celebs. I suggest if you want to see some real action and be a real reporter/camera man then go do some good and cover the Iraqi war or the starvation in Sudan or many other areas of the world where a camera might do some good and not just provoke weak minded celebs to beaingt the crap out of you.
Was Woody wrong, sure, but that does not make TMZ right. The best we can do is to not give TMZ any press. Mr. Levine is one of many humans that suck off of others shortcomings. It's sad but this is the wonderful world that we live in, full of blood sucking cockroaches other wise known as HOLLYWOOD.

Posted at 1:03PM on Jul 4th 2006 by Michael Belli

28. I so miss Celebrities Uncensored. Ahhhhh, those were the days.

(My Rant): I'm so sick of these so-called celebrities and their whining about their picture being taken. Without those pictures, they wouldn't have any fans, and no fans, definitely no fortune, and the fame comes with their faces being plastered everywhere. Why is it so difficult for them to grasp this?

So which is it superstars (superstars really only applies to a few and Woody Harrelson ain't one of them), do you want your fame and fortune . . . or do you want your privacy on public streets? Maybe Harrelson (What has he been doing anyway. I thought his star burnt out years ago) is using that old PR phrase . . . "There is no such thing as bad publicity. "

Levine, I hope you take Harrelson for everything he has PLUS he should do jail time for assault. Any other human being would have to do time for assault and pay fines.

Having your picture taken, fans asking for autographs, fans buying the magazines who pay photographers to take your pictures. What a horrible, horrible life for a human being that might get $10 Million a picture. They don't even have to really have any talent if they have the great looks. However, they forget why they have fame and fortune. If it were not for the fans that pay for their movies, concerts, usicwhatever, they would be nobody.

Anyone on public property is open game for taking pictures.

Why don't the papparazi do what they did to Clooney when he complained about them. He sure changed his tune when his movie bom

Go to the premier of A SCANNER DARKLY. Totally ignore him. Focus on Keanu, Robert Downey, and Wynonna Ryder. No one interview Harrellson. Wear press tags with a picture of Harrellson's face with an X over it. Really ignore the jerk.

Good luck in your lawsuit.

Posted at 3:32PM on Jul 5th 2006 by Belinda

29. How bout no photos of any celebrity for at least six months. See how much they scream. They might even think no one loves them any more. No one even the "great" Woody has the right to put thier hands on anyone else, only if they are in physical danger.

Posted at 8:57AM on Jul 6th 2006 by Willard Brown

30. I wish Woody would have done more than choked him. You paparazzi deserve no sympathy, and you won't get it from me, you self rightous pricks. And to that other guy who tried to slip that promotion for his website in there, go choke on a sausage, you fat, lifeless jerk. Maybe if you had all gotten an education, even to the point of finishing High School, then you wouldn't have to suck at the waste of society by hunting people like their animals. LOSERS.

Posted at 3:36PM on Jul 6th 2006 by nat