UPDATE: Richard Belzer Denies Harassing Apple Employee

This is more dramatic than apparently not recognizing Alan Alda: Richard Belzer, the comic and Homicide and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor, was hit with a harassment complaint from an UWS Apple Store staffer yesterday. [UPDATE BELOW: And now he's explaining his side.]

According to the Post, an employee asked Belzer if he needed help. The Post's source said, "He believed she knew who he was and he put his hands on her shoulders and said, 'Thank God you're here.' She didn't know who he was." However, the Daily News reports, "Milan Agnew, 21, of Manhattan, claimed Belzer, 65, entered the upper West Side store yesterday, grabbed her by the shoulders, shook her, choked her and barked, 'I need help!'"

Agnew called 911, and when the police came, they decided not charge him with a crime (the Post: the cops reviewed the videotape; the News: source says Belzer told cops he was "just joking"). Agnew's grandmother tells the News, "She told me, 'Nana, he didn't just touch me, he choked me and really scared me.' My granddaughter is petite, just 5-feet-2 and she's a dancer so she doesn't have much body to her. Where does this man come off putting his hands on her?"

Further, the News' witnesses claim that Belzer "was clad in black and walked into and out of the store three times after pacing up and down the block." One said, "If it was one of us, we'd be locked up right now." Agnew filed a report of harassment and may be able to pursue it in civil court.

UPDATE: From TMZ: "Belzer tells TMZ the drama all started while he was waiting in line at the Apple store in Manhattan. He says a female employee approached him and asked him if he needed help ... so he placed his hands on her shoulders and said he would love some help." He also mentioned the surveillance tape and how cops decided not to press charges, "Perhaps I shouldn't have invaded her space, but it was clearly non-threatening."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 11, 2010 2:57 PM

Comments [rss]

Katie Kat

I have personally met Richard Belzer and Harlee Mcbride. They are the kindest couple I know. Very supportive...

The surveillance tape speaks for itself that he didn't choke her - she just didn't know who he was and Belz thought she did. All I can see is mis-communication and cultural differences, not threats to anyone.

Richard and Harlee spend half their time in France. In both France and in the culture of acting, personal space is closer. And he did apologize that she felt her personal space had been threatened.

Kind Regards,

Katie Kat

aka The Purple Kattery

Katie Kat

fyi... I had a similar incident with a retail employee right after my first trip to France. and I'm not even famous... yet =^..^=

bitchincamaro

not cool.

nyorker555

She sounds like a golddigger.

wobbleSmith

the real question is "will the SVU writers rip this from the headlines and write it into an upcoming episode?"

and the answer to that... is "almost certainly."

Conrad Vacation

Someone smells free money!

The Edge

She's on Facebook..

jaja007

We ought to set her up on a date with that snowball-assault cop from the other day. They might quite a lot in common. Being uptight fools, for instance.

Gwinny

this chick is a total joke. she probably decided to file suit after finding out he was a celebrity... probably blinded by the dollar signs in her eyes... get real, you sad little creature.

resa

No way, no way, no way.

mingusahum

All he was trying to do was get his Macbook to make the 'bum-bum' sound every time he booted up.

mangell

Munch: iNeedHelp

Agnew: iSue

TrippinJoJo

And they are called "Geniuses" because?????????

Snoopy

This incident would never have happened at B&H Photo.

whitecastlerock

I thought he was dead...

theboneranger

that must mean you don't watch television, which i applaud you for - but he's on it like everyday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dduxCyK3Ji4