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Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
A man who got into a verbal dispute with Bristol Palin at a Los Angeles bar is suing her for alleged defamation of character for airing video of their argument during a promotion for the reality television star.
Stephen Hanks was having drinks last fall at the Saddle Ranch Chop House in West Hollywood, where Ms. Palin was riding a mechanical bull, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles last week.
Several patrons yelled at Ms. Palin regarding their dislike of her mother, onetime Republican vice presidential hopeful and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. According to the suit, Ms. Palin then approached Mr. Hanks, and told him in a “condescending and demeaning tone” that she believed he did not like her mother because “you are a homosexual.”
The exchange was filmed by A&E Television Networks L.L.C. for “Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp” on Lifetime Television, which premiers June 19.
Video of the argument posted online shows Mr. Hanks calling the former Alaska governor “evil” and “the devil,” as well as calling Bristol Palin an expletive.
Mr. Hanks alleges he was unaware that he was being filmed and that A&E did not obtain permission to use his image. He also says Ms. Palin “falsely blamed” him in a magazine interview for prompting her to move from Los Angeles back to Alaska.
Mr. Hanks reportedly works as a talent manager and alleges that the footage, which aired in marketing promos for the upcoming show, caused harm to his profession and occupation. He is seeking unspecified compensatory, punitive and emotional distress damages against Ms. Palin and A&E for defamation, invasion of privacy and other counts.