Brad Garrett ignited a new racial firestorm yesterday when the giant actor dropped some serious slurs at a paparazzo during a heated argument in the middle of the street.


We don't know what set off the scuffle, but Garrett can be clearly heard saying, "Wear the turban! Wear the turban!" People had to restrain both Garrett and the photog from attacking each other, but eventually Brad got into his car and drove off.

A rep for Garrett was not immediately available for comment.

Brad Garrett was partying at PURE nightclub in Las Vegas last night, and he couldn't keep his hands off his GF, making out with her like they were a couple of "High School Musical" stars.

Wait, that is his girlfriend -- right?

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they will open a criminal investigation into the confrontation last night between Brad Garrett and a slew of photogs.

As we first reported, Garrett was leaving Dan Tana's restaurant in West Hollywood when photogs descended. After a few minutes, a clearly irritated Garrett smacked a camera and challenged the photogs to a fight. One cameraman called Garrett a "tall faggot."

We're told someone came to the cop shop and filed a police report, listing Garrett as the "suspect." Cops are investigating a possible criminal battery.

Story developing ...

Brad Garrett went off last night, smacking a paparazzo's camera and challenging a gaggle of photogs to a fight, but he was arguably provoked.


It happened outside Dan Tana's restaurant in West Hollywood. Garrett left the restaurant and was greeted by around a dozen cameras, as photogs screamed what a big star he was. This went on for a few minutes and it appeared it was over as Brad walked to the valet.

But as several cameras continued to tail him, Brad clearly had enough. He took a swipe at a camera, and then lunged at the photog, telling him to "get a real job."

Brad then walked away and a moronic photog from an independent agency screamed, "He's a tall faggot anyway." Garrett came back and challenged the photogs to put their equipment down and their dukes up. No one accepted the challenge.

Sure, Kelsey Grammer's getting a lot of sympathy for his weekend heart attack in Hawaii -- but where's the outcry of support for Brad Garrett and his nasty yeast infection?

Brad Garrett and his wife Jill Diven have finalized their divorce of seven years, citing irreconcilable differences. Everybody doesn't love Raymond's TV bro.

According to court documents, Garrett, of "Raymond" and "'Til Death" fame, will pay $20,000 a month in child support for the couple's two kids -- Max, 9, and Hope, 7 -- the exes will split legal and physical custody.

Brad also agreed to pay $35,000 in spousal support until December 31, 2018 -- but would stop before then if Diven remarries or if either party dies. Diven also gets half of Garrett's "Everybody Loves Raymond" profit participation. That's a lotta lasagne!

The couple filed for divorce in April 2006, but managed to keep it a secret until August 2006. It helped that everything was filed under Brad's real last name -- Gerstenfeld.

Brad Garrett bitchslapped a TMZ photog back in August, after taking out some frustration on the wrong guy -- and yesterday went on TV to actually defend his hit.


Garrett was on "Good Day L.A.," where he slammed TMZ by saying, "They're not journalists" -- and that he was "ambushed" while on a date at Nobu. Garrett also said he hit a man wearing a turban. That was not the case. The guy he actually hit was our turban-less cameraman!

What Garrett failed to mention were the alleged racial slurs behind the incident. On the night of the slapping, one of the photogs in front Nobu told Brad that he was offended by remarks Brad made toward black people. Obviously upset by the question, Brad turned and hit our guy -- who hadn't said a word the entire night.

Dorothy Lucey rallied support for Harvey Levin though, and said, "He's an investigative reporter, he's the only one left in television news." Thanks, Dorothy!

Temper tantrum throwin' Brad Garrett was in a great mood yesterday in Malibu, where he posed for pics and happily chatted with fans. This guy has been in good spirits lately -- he must be practicing meditation! Ommmmm!


Perhaps the 6'9" actor was on his best behavior because his two children and dogs were accompanying him. That should be incentive for anyone to lead by example!

By the way, these fans hit pay dirt this weekend! TMZ also caught them befriending Adam Sandler later that evening!

Frenemy of the paparazzi Brad Garrett put the smackdown on O.J. yesterday, saying, "He (O.J.) has been lucky to be free this long, he should go to jail and be a good boy."


Garrett is one to talk! Hmm... is allegedly expressing distaste for African Americans hanging around Malibu, and smacking a TMZ cameraman, how good boys act?

Garrett's not so big after all.

He launched his violent attack just out of the range of our camera, but it turns out someone else was rolling when Brad Garrett unleashed a light-shattering uppercut on a TMZ camera in Malibu last night.


In the footage shot by a photog further away from the action, you can clearly see the 6'8" "Everybody Loves Raymond" star reach down and sucker-slap the camera in front of a crowd of paparazzi, knocking the equipment back into the photog's face. Keep your eye on the light attached to the top of the camera -- Brad knocks it clear out of the frame.

A rep for Garrett had no comment.

Things got downright racial last night in Malibu, when a paparazzo taunted Brad Garrett, calling him racist to his face. Garrett then took out his anger on the wrong guy, bitchslapping a TMZ photog.


It happened outside Nobu restaurant around 11:30 PM, after a photog from the FAME photo agency questioned the "Everybody Loves Raymond" star about a joke he made about black people earlier in the week. According to several witnesses and FAME, last month Brad noticed a black photog taking his picture, and in Kramer-esque fashion quipped, "I didn't know there were black people in Malibu. Go back to where you came from."

Fast forward to last night, where the 6'8" behemoth reached his boiling point when the same black photog questioned him about the alleged comment. The photog told Garrett that there were "more black people here this time," to which the actor replied, "Yeah, I know ... when did they let you out?" Furious at the comment, photog told Garrett, "You're racist. You should be ashamed on [sic] yourself."

Obviously frustrated, Garrett then lost his cool completely. Instead of reacting to the snapper making the comments, Garrett approached TMZ's cameraman and unleashed his right hand, smashing the camera into the photog's face.

Calls to Garrett's reps were not immediately returned.