Footage of American actor Brad Garrett apparently hitting a camera out of a photographer's hand is being streamed online. The Everybody Loves Raymond star was leaving a Los Angeles restaurant on Sunday night when the incident occurred as he was surrounded by the paparazzi. Things appear to get heated when one photographer starts shouting insults at Garrett, only for the actor to shout back "Excuse me?" before slapping the camera. According to website Tmz.com, where the footage has been posted, the photographer suffered a swollen eye when the camera was knocked into his face during the skirmish.

Legendary American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has been honored by the French Legion after they promoted his rank from "Chevalier" to "Officer." The Legion of Honor is the highest award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the social status or nationality of the recipients. Coppola was praised on Thursday for his contributions to cinema and culture, along with his "passion for food, wine and art" by France's consul general, Frederic Desagneaux. Desagneaux told Coppola at the ceremony held in his San Francisco home, "You are a wonderful storyteller. I think a main reason the French audience likes your films is that they deal with the myth and legend of America." Coppola says, "I wasn't quite expecting this promotion. I'm very grateful and I'm very touched. My granddaughter Romy (child of Sofia Coppola and French rocker Thomas Mars) thanks you as well." The Legion Of Honor was created by French leader Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

Y Tu Mama Tambien co-stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna staged a gala dinner in Mexico City on Saturday night in an effort to raise funds and awareness about poverty and injustice in the country. The two actors and friends teamed up with rocker Peter Gabriel's Witness human rights organization and Mexico's Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights to stage the $300-a-head event. At a press conference before the gala, Bernal congratulated filmmakers for bringing light to terrible acts: "Documentaries show us the injustices in the country where we live, that this problem exists. We can't escape it." Luna and Garcia Bernal have launched a new production company, Canana, and plan to make a series of documentaries aimed at raising awareness about failures of the Mexican judicial system.

Tori Spelling insists her mother Candy won't be making a cameo appearance on her new reality TV show, because the pair don't want to put undue pressure on their relationship so soon after ending their long-running feud. So Notorious star Tori reportedly inherited a paltry $200,000 of her late millionaire father Aaron Spelling's $500 million fortune - a decision made my her then-estranged mother Candy Spelling. Tori spent the inheritance on a guest house for her and new husband Dean McDermott to run - all captured on reality show Tori And Dean: Inn Love. Candy and Tori have since reconciled, shortly before the birth of the actress' first child Liam in March, and both mother and daughter are in agreement for Candy not to appear on the TV show. Tori says, "I know that a lot of people want to see that (Candy on the show), but I don't want to be selling out by putting my family on TV. I'm taking time to cultivate that relationship and let it grow again."

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have tried to kill rumors their relationship is on the rocks by partying together at a Chicago, Illinois nightclub. In recent weeks gossips have reveled in reports Hollywood's hottest pair is close to splitting, three years after they met on the set of movie Mr. And Mrs. Smith. Jolie has even been spotted viewing a California villa on her own. But the couple held hands early on Monday as they left a night-time hotspot in the Windy City, where Jolie is shooting a new movie Wanted.

New mom Naomi Watts received police protection as she went shopping on Monday as pursuing paparazzi sparked a safety scare. Watts, who gave birth to Liev Schreiber's son last month attracted more than 30 photographers as she shopped for groceries in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood. Fearing for the safety of the actress and other shoppers, two LAPD officers ordered the snappers to leave the Whole Foods organic supermarket and its parking lot. After paying for her food, the Australian star was forced to remain hidden in the supermarket while a pal drove her vehicle close to an exit door. An unnamed Whole Foods employee says, "The paparazzi just came from everywhere. It becomes a safety issue for customers, especially in the car park, which is busy enough without all those guys with cameras."

Crusading actress Mia Farrow has lit a symbolic torch to highlight the ongoing atrocities in western Sudan. Farrow, a goodwill ambassador for U.N. Children's Fund Unicef and outspoken critic of the abuses taking place in the war-torn country, held the flame in Oure Cassoni refugee camp, near Chad's border with Sudan. She said, "This flame represents and honors all those who have been lost, and all those who still suffer. This flame celebrates the courage of those who survived and represents the hope we all share for an end to the violence, and a safe return home." Farrow made her political statement almost exactly a year before the Beijing Olympics open. China is Sudan's most powerful ally and stands accused of shielding its government from international action.

Playboy boss Hugh Hefner has dismissed allegations a sexual assault recently took place at his famous Los Angeles mansion, insisting the complaint was made up by a woman trying to hide her sexual exploits from her boyfriend. Police started investigating the alleged rape last Monday, before concluding their report on Friday, declaring there was no evidence the incident at a summer party had taken place. Hefner, 81, claims the woman who made the allegations had "had a good time" at the party and he is in doubt the sexual assault didn't happen. Speaking on TV show Today on Monday, he said, "You want to know the story behind the story? A girl came to the party without her boyfriend, had a good time, came home very late to a very upset boyfriend, so she invented a story. That's the story behind the story. There was no sexual assault. I'm sure that a rape did not occur; there's no question about it."

Superstar Madonna is reportedly planning to ring in her 50th year with a special gig in New York City's Central Park. The 48-year-old singer is in talks to mark her entry into her 50th year on August 16, 2008, as part of a U.S. tour to promote her forthcoming album. A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "One of the ideas she loves is to do Central Park on her birthday. She came up with it and has been discussing it as a serious possibility. She doesn't like getting older but she knows there's no way she can pretend her birthday isn't happening. She is planning to kick off a world tour next June in America to promote her new album. Playing at Central Park would be the highlight. She sees it as a huge televised event."

Britney Spears' former husband Kevin Federline has been dropped from a role in Keanu Reeves' new movie, according to reports. The dancer-turned-actor was due to appear in The Night Watchman - with rumors abounding Federline was "appearing opposite" the Speed star. However, reports allege Federline was fired from the forthcoming film, but was not informed of his "firing." A source tells the New York Daily News, "He had a very small role - he was in a montage. He was fired from the film, but his manager didn't tell him. Kevin found out when he turned up for a wardrobe call." Federline's manager declined to comment on the reports, however a representative for Fox Searchlight denied he was ever cast in the movie.