Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis Physically Attacked by Brody Jenner in Unprovoked Incident

Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis Physically Attacked by Brody Jenner in Unprovoked Incident

Date:8/29/2009 7:24:00 AM

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 // -- Early reports by online gossip bloggers about an altercation between Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis and TV personality Brody Jenner have the facts exactly wrong, according to multiple sources. "Jenner's public accusations that I punched and kicked his girlfriend are false, outrageous, and slanderous," says Francis. "In fact, they are actionable." TMZ.com reports that Michael Sutton, the owner of the nightclub where the events took place, has reviewed the security footage of the incident and it backs Joe's story.

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According to Francis, the incident began Thursday night as he was talking with a friend in Guys and Dolls, a Hollywood nightspot. "Someone shoved me from behind, then hurled a drink at me, glass and all," Francis says. "I turned to see who it was, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground, with Brody Jenner ripping at my shirt." Club security quickly intervened and led Francis to safety. "The security guards told me they saw the whole thing, and apologized to me for the trouble. They even offered me a new Guys and Dolls T-shirt." According to multiple witnesses, including the club's head of security, Francis never punched anyone.

After being attacked, Francis stepped outside the club where he was met by club manager Chris Kasteler. "I was talking with the General Manager for about 5 minutes when Brody Jenner came out of nowhere and cold-cocked me." Witnesses say that after Jenner sucker-punched Francis, Brody was tazed by club security and briefly detained until security guards could escort Francis safely to his vehicle. "This morning, I learned that Jenner was posting false statements about me online, in a desperate attempt to create some publicity for himself."

This is the second time this year Jenner has attacked Francis without provocation, according to Francis. In Touch Magazine Online reported in June that Jenner got into a brawl with a club promoter at Les Deux, another Hollywood hotspot, resulting in his being banned from that club for the second time in three months.

Francis says he was shocked by Jenner's false allegations. "I've never hit a girl in my life," says Francis, "and the accusation disgusts me. The only reason Brody Jenner and his girlfriend are making these claims is because they know they are in deep legal trouble for this second unprovoked attack on me."