Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert declined comment on Wednesday when we asked whether it was true that New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick had smacked him with a rolled-up binder during a screening of "Slumdog Millionaire" at the Toronto Film Festival.
But after reading our "truthful" account Thursday, Ebert has confirmed that he tapped Lumenick several times on the shoulder because he was blocking the movie's subtitles - and that Lumenick "jumped up and whacked me on the knee."
Ebert, whose cancer has rendered him speechless, writes: "I think the guy was wrong ... But I am plenty hearty enough to withstand a smack." The reaction of Ebert's wife, Chaz: "I'll get a no-neck guy from the West Side to break his knees." Click to read Ebert's statment.
- Bill Clinton had the Esquire 75th-anniversary party crowd in stitches Wednesday night. "I love Gotham Hall [where the party was held], but every time I'm here I expect Batman to come out of the dark," the former President joked, drawing laughs from editor David Granger, Bill Murray and Mary-Louise Parker. "And as a Democrat, it's weird for Rupert Murdoch to be standing down there, while I'm standing up here."
- N.Y. Giants co-owner/film producer Steve Tisch is preparing for a hard time at the Tom Arnold Celebrity Roast in his honor this weekend in L.A. All proceeds benefit the Kayne Eras Center, a special education school and therapy center.
- Dave Matthews had a personal reason for playing in Wednesday night's Stand Up For a Cure concert at MSG. "When I was younger, my siblings and I were sitting in my bedroom when my mom came in and said we lost our dad [to cancer]," the rocker said during his performance. "So it's really good that we're here today to support this, because one of these days, we won't have to have talks like that anymore."
- "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer will face the music Friday night when he jams with his country-and-Western band at Hill Country, the W. 26 St. BBQ joint. He's celebrating his latest book, "Bob Schieffer's America."