The Zombie Defense

[Platapus]

Not as good as the Chewbacca Defense but it might just work..... NOT!!

Woody Harrelson claims he mistook photographer for zombie

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movi...bie/index.html

Woody Harrelson defended his clash with a photographer at a New York airport Wednesday night as a case of mistaken identity -- he says he mistook the cameraman for a zombie.

The TMZ photographer filed a complaint with police claiming the actor damaged his camera and pushed him in the face at La Guardia Airport, according to an airport spokesman.

"We're looking into this allegation and if it's warranted, we'll turn it over to the proper authorities," said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Ron Marsico.

The photographer, who was not identified, captured the encounter on a small camera after his larger one was broken.

Harrelson, who is being sued by another TMZ photographer for an alleged assault in 2006, did not deny his involvement.

"I wrapped a movie called 'Zombieland,' in which I was constantly under assault by zombies, then flew to New York, still very much in character," Harrelson said in a statement issued Friday by his publicist.

"With my daughter at the airport I was startled by a paparazzo, who I quite understandably mistook for a zombie," he said.

Uh no, Mr Harrelson, it is not quite understandable. You do realize that on the set you were "pretending" there were zombies right? It was a move. A fiction movie. Made up stuff. And when you are with your daughter it is no longer pretending, it is in real life?

TMZ.com posted two videos of the incident, including one recorded by the larger camera before it was damaged.

The first video shows the photographer following Harrelson and his daughter down an escalator and out of the terminal. It ends with Harrelson apparently reaching for the lens.

The second video begins with the photographer accusing Harrelson of breaking his camera.

After Harrelson returns the camera to him, a scuffle appears to ensue.

"Woody, this is assault. Woody, this is assault," the photographer is heard saying. "Woody, chill out. Would you please chill out?"

The photographer continues to follow Harrelson for another four minutes as the actor and his daughter walk to the airport parking lot. At one point, Harrelson again turns toward the cameraman.

"I'm being chased by Woody Harrelson while I'm talking to you," the photographer says as he talks to an unidentified person on a cell phone.

"He hit me in my face, he broke my friggin' camera, he broke the camera in pieces," he said.

Harrelson, his daughter and a driver get inside an SUV and the encounter ends.

In the movie "Zombieland," Harrelson plays "the most frightened person on Earth" looking for refuge from zombies, according to the Internet Movie Database

Filming on the movie wrapped in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, according to director Ruben Fleischer's Web site.

TMZ photographer Josh Levine filed a lawsuit against Harrelson last year for an alleged attack outside a Hollywood nightclub in 2006.

Video of that incident, which is also posted on TMZ.com, also appeared to show Harrelson grabbing a camera and clashing with the photographer.

Los Angeles prosecutors declined to press charges against the actor, but Levine filed a suit last summer asking for $2.5 million in damages.

"Woody Harrelson has a history of anger management issues with people and we intend to put a stop to this," Cyrus Nownejad, Levine's lawyer, said Friday.

TMZ photographers may be low-life scumbags who are a constant PITA, but they are not zombies. Comparing TMZ photographers with zombies is insulting (although I don't know which would be more insulted).

BTW, I hardly think that Mr Harrelson is bothered by paparazzi. Maybe in his dreams. A freelance TMZ photographer does not a paparazzo make.

Anyway, any bets that this Zombie Defense will work?

[Platapus]

"We're looking into this allegation and if it's warranted, we'll turn it over to the proper authorities," said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Ron Marsico.

Who are the proper authorities that investigate whether there are zombies in the area?

[Digital_Trucker]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Who are the proper authorities that investigate whether there are zombies in the area?

I think that would be TMZs job, but they're running low on cameras lately

[UnderseaLcpl]

I get a page not found error when I click on the link. However, a CBC report says that no charges have been filed yet, so it may not even be a case. Even so, under criminal law I doubt that Harrelson would have much of a case. I think he would have had a better case if he had said the cameraman intentionally provoked or startled him.

Tort law is a different story. If TMZ seeks a civil trial for damages, Harrelson could win. I'm not about to dive headfirst into New York tort law to find an example, though. The summary of New York tort law I have fills 3 books by itself. You'll have to pardon me for being lazy.
People have won tort law cases in which the odds were stacked against them much more than this, though. I'll be happy to provide some bizarre examples if anyone wants to hear them.

[Digital_Trucker]

They must have moved it, it's at http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movi...ref=newssearch now.

[Skybird]

Wrong thread. I thought this was about a chess opening.

[Digital_Trucker]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Wrong thread. I thought this was about a chess opening.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Wrong thread. I thought this was about a chess opening.

Double :rotfl::rotfl:

[Platapus]

I think the zombie opening in chess is where you just sit and stare at the board until your opponent faints.

Not a very effective opening during timed play though.

[SteamWake]

Woody Harrelson... :rotfl:

anyhow

Was it Capablanca that played an opponent with a cigar chomped in his mouth... his opponent protested loudly and vigorusly that smoking was not allowed.

"But Im not smoking it" Capa replied "But your threatining to smoke it" his opponent whined...

The game was over quickly with Capa's opponent evidently so flustered by the cigar blundered 4 or so moves into the game.

[Skybird]

25% of chess is psychological warfare.

[A Very Super Market]

Uncyclopedia has a good article on (obviously fake) chess openings.

[Etienne]

Man, are those TMZ photographers annoying. They're not even pretending to be polite!

I'm not old, famous or important, but I HATE it when people I don't know yell my first name at me. And these guys are downright condescending. Gawd I hate them.