Alec Baldwin accused of using racist epithets with New York Post photographer

Baldwin clashes with Post

Alec Baldwin is at odds with the media again, and this time he’s being accused of hurling racist epithets at a newspaper photographer.

According to the New York Post, one of the paper’s reporters, Tara Palmeri, approached Baldwin while he was walking his dog Sunday and asked him about a lawsuit involving his wife, Hilaria. The paper claims Baldwin (inset) responded aggressively, grabbing the reporter by the arm and saying, “I want to choke you to death.”

Then,
according to the newspaper, Baldwin turned to the photographer, G.N. Miller, a retired NYPD detective who’s now a Post staff photographer, and called him several names, including “coon,” “crackhead,” and “drug dealer.” USA Today reported that Miller, who is African-American, and Baldwin both filed harassment claims against each other.

Baldwin tweeted about the incident: “My publicist has just informed me that the ‘photographer’ from the Post is claiming I called him a racial epithet, prior to calling the cops. That’s kind of magical thinking, isn’t it? The Post accusing me of racism?” He later deleted some of his tweets about the incident.

The actor’s rep, Matthew Hiltzik, has denied that his client made any racist statements, saying “That’s one of the most outrageous things I’ve heard in my life.’’

Fergie expecting

Fergie is pregnant with her first child. A rep for the Black Eyed Peas singer confirmed the news Monday. Fergie’s actor husband Josh Duhamel tweeted about it with joy, saying: ‘‘Fergie and Me and BABY makes three.’’ The 37-year-old Fergie and 40-year-old Duhamel married in 2009. She joined the Black Eyed Peas when the group released its third album,
‘‘Elephunk,’’ in 2003. The foursome is known for its pop-inspired hip-hop tunes like ‘‘My Humps,’’ ‘’I Gotta Feeling,’’ and ‘‘Boom Boom Pow.” Fergie released her solo debut, ‘‘The Duchess,’’ in 2006. (AP)

Plant open to Zep reunion

Maybe a Led Zeppelin reunion is possible after all. Singer Robert Plant says he’d be open to a Led Zeppelin reunion next year, and said it’s not true that he’s the reason it hasn’t happened before now. According to RollingStone
.com, Plant made his comments to Australia’s version of “60 Minutes.” “[Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones] are Capricorns. They don’t say a word. They’re quite contained in their own worlds and they leave it to me,” said Plant. “I’m not the bad guy . . . You need to see the Capricorns — I’ve got nothing to do in 2014.” Plant, Page, and Jones reunited for one show at London’s O2 Arena in December 2007, with Jason Bonham drumming in place of his late father, John.