ROLL FOOTAGE — You can't pick up an abandoned bag of cash outside a bank and then act surprised when you're arrested for stolen property. But TMZ chief Harvey Levin insists the photo of a bruised Rihanna that his website published last night was "represented" as totally legit when they secured it — that is, it wasn't stolen from the LAPD. At least not according to the person who gave it tohim! Which has Levin thinking he's in the clear of any allegations of possessing stolen property. This, despite the LAPD launching an investigation in to how the photo leaked; the shot is reportedly one taken by a detective on the scene, and there are more photos of Rihanna's injuries taken at the hospital. Levin plugged in to KTLA this morning to discuss the Chris Brown-Rihanna incident, artfully dodging most questions aimed at the ethics of publishing the photo — a debate entirely bungled by KTLA's own decision to run the photo during the Levin segment.
Pirates Come Back for Second Round of Whoop-Ass (21)
· weezy says: “Gays and blacks like Obama, that’s pretty much it. Military LOVES Rush, and... »
· Rhonda says: They don’t always respect command, ever heard of the F U salute, soldiers hated... »
· bam-a-lam says: @Rhonda: The military always respects the President, no matter who he/she is. The... »
Bald A-Hole Joe the “Plumber” Now Stealing from Ignorant Poor People (39)
· weezy says: “Obama said, well I’m going to tax your earnings and give it to losers who... »
· Rhonda says: Bam, No one picked “Joe the Plumber” he asked Obama a guestion, Obama blew... »
· bam-a-lam says: “Joe the Plumber” really is a pretty bad spokesman. He’s not a... »
Obama Puppy Now Fielding Your Questions (67)
· whitney says: I didn’t have enough patience to read all of the pages of comments. PETA is... »
The Bigoted, Illiterate Tea Party Goons Gallery (106)
· weezy says: i hope all of those people protesting make 250K and above and will not take any stimulus... »
Despite Glenn Beck’s Support, Texas Will Never Secede (38)
· weezy says: @bam-a-lam: #18 brilliant post!!! #26 getreal: i agree. i think we should all get... »
GretaWire Wire (14)
· Rhonda says: Obama continues on his America Sucks 09 apology tour. Chavez and Obama looked pretty... »
Once the cats out of the bag, it's out of the bag. Bottom line is the picture shows in a absolute shocking way that definitively Chris Brown is a punk, girl-beating
I think Harvey Levin is a dreadful person and I'm glad readership is down on that website.
I hope Rihanna sues TMZ for damages and gives the money to a battered women's charity
or better yet Rihanna could give the money to Octopussy!
You can see Harvey squirm when the newscaster starts asking him questions about receiving stolen property. He says it was taken on the street in Hancock Park, so maybe it's not a police photo. Please! Like Rihanna's friends stopped by to preserve this Kodak moment? It's so scummy that they published this picture. It's humiliating enough for Rihanna that the whole world knows what happened to her, but now we can see it. I hope Rihanna dumps Chris and sues the hell out of TMZ and the LAPD. The leak of that pic was no accident. Shame on you TMZ.
@American Dreamer
I can understand being upset that this photo is being posted everywhere, including Perezhilton and Dlisted. But I fail to see how referring to Nadya Suleman as Octopussy is doing anything better for women or women's rights.
If she sues TMZ she will have to sue everyone else that has shown the picture, especially those without TMZ's permission. TMZ paid for the picture, whether that is legit or not, and by doing so I suspect had a contract for publication and distribution of that image. But did KTLA pay for the picture to be able to show it here? I doubt it. So they are just as guilty for publishing it as TMZ is. But, given all circumstance, TMZ could sue KTLA for using copywrited material during the segment without permission.
But more to the point, if everyone wouldn't make such a big deal out of "celebrity" none of these things would be public, and could be dealt with, either through the courts or other means to have a more humane resolution to them.
"octopussy" cracked me up!
(I can say that, I am a woman. As a woman, I always love a well placed James Bond reference.)
david I'm sure you're happy to be living in Los Angeles with the great tv coverage of KTLA and Harvey Levin its so superior to New York's coverage…
@getreal: The website was always just a vehicle to launch the TV show. Viewership for the television show is up and it is getting picked up by more stations across the country. Subsequently, Harvey Levin has been 'green lighted' to produce another type of show similar to TMZ.
Regardless of what you think of Levin, the website readership being down has no bearing on the success he seems to be experiencing.
Did I miss something?
What is all the fuss about on who got the photo?
The story should be about a woman being beaten and what should happen next.He is not convicted yet,but all the evidence points that way.
The real story should be "What should the punishment be for a woman beater"