Paparazzi

The Mission: Safely escort Sean Penn from the door at Craig's restaurant to his car (10 paces away) without a violent incident.

The Manpower: Three armed L.A. County Sheriff Deputies.

The Issue at Hand: Sean's a loose cannon and Craig's is surrounded by paparazzi. Sean doesn't take kindly to paparazzi. In fact, he likes to attack them.

So, was Sean able to walk 10 steps to his car -- with an armed escort -- without incident?

Watch the clip ...

8:01 AM PT -- The L.A. Sheriff's Dept. tells TMZ ... deputies responded to a call from Craig's around 11:08 PM, when restaurant staff reported a disturbance on the property.

One of Justin Bieber's bodyguards roughed up a photog last night at an IHOP in Encino, CA ... and the pap has filed a battery report with cops ... according to law enforcement sources.

TMZ has learned ... the photog says he was trying to take pictures of Bieber in the pancake shop, but took a potty break, and that's where the alleged battery went down.

The photog says he was injured slightly.

Justin Bieber's pals Lil Za and Lil Twist acted like Lil Thugs by attacking a paparazzo in Miami last June -- so claims the photog who's suing Bieber and a bodyguard.

Photog Jeffrey Binion says in his depo -- obtained by TMZ -- he was confronted by Za, Twist and 2 of Justin's bodyguards after taking pics of Justin outside of a recording studio.

Binion says Za demanded the photog's camera ... threatened to break it ... then tried to wrench it from his hand. Binion claims the struggle lasted 3 to 5 minutes. As for Twist ... Binion says he was egging Za on.

Binion also claims one of the bodyguards threatened him with a gun.

Binion says he was strong armed into deleting the photos ... because a bodyguard had him in a choke hold.

He's now suing Bieber and that bodyguard ... claiming he's injured and mentally screwed up.

For a change ... Justin Bieber's a little camera shy, at least when it comes to sitting for a videotaped deposition in his legal battle with a Miami paparazzo ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Bieber is being sued by Jeffrey Binion, the pap who claims one of Bieber's thugs choked him and stole his camera equipment back in June.

Binion's attorney is set to grill Justin in a videotaped deposition next month -- and Bieber's responded with a legal request for the depo to be kept under lock and key.

According to the docs, Bieber's lawyers feel "it is highly likely that the entire deposition will be published to the public." Their concern is the questioning will include lots of topics unrelated to the case.

Translation: they don't want a video of Justin talking about all his juvenile antics getting out to the world.

Team Bieber is requesting that no copies be made of the original recording. They also want to handpick the videographer.

Video has surfaced allegedly showing one of Justin Bieber's bodyguards attacking a photog's car in Australia ... and it's crazy.

The video was shot last night in Sydney. According to the photog, he was following Bieber's car when it pulled over and one of the singer's bodyguards hopped out, demanding the pap buzz off.

You can hear the heated exchange as the photog refuses to go anywhere -- and then you can hear several loud banging noises. The photog says, "He just kicked the door."

Justin is not visible in the video. The photog claims the man also knifed his tires, but you can't see that in the clip.

Sources tell TMZ, the bodyguard in the video is the same bodyguard who allegedly attacked an Australian surfer the day before ... for trying to take a photo of Bieber surfing.

Lamar Odom threw himself back into the lion's den last night ... arriving at LAX, where swarms of photogs are always on the lookout for celebs ... and he NEARLY lost his cool.

Lamar was walking through one of the terminals when he claims a pap nearly ran him over. The photog denies the accusation, but you can tell ... Lamar's pissed.

At one point, Lamar looks the pap in the eye and says, "Don't antagonize me." He then publicly humiliates the guy with the biggest diss of all time ... you gotta see it.

Good thing Lamar kept his temper under control -- for the most part -- as we reported, he agreed to stay on his best behavior after his epic pap confrontation over the summer. He also agreed to get anger management counseling.

The woman whose son was killed while photographing Justin Bieber's Ferrari January 1 claims not one but TWO cars struck the photog. The second driver is wanted for felony hit-and-run and TMZ has learned the hit-and-run vehicle fits the basic description of an SUV in Bieber's entourage.

Bieber was NOT in the Ferrari. Lil Twist was behind the wheel when he was allegedly speeding on the 405, and a CHP officer pulled him off the Freeway. The deputy spoke to Twist and let him go, and then told photog Chris Guerra -- who was standing on the side of the road -- to get out of the area. As Guerra walked across the road, he was struck by a car, and shortly thereafter hit by a second vehicle.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ -- based on surveillance video and forensic evidence -- the second vehicle that struck Guerra was a black, high-profile SUV that was either a Range Rover or a Hummer.

Guerra's mom believes it's possible the SUV could have been someone from Bieber's camp either trailing the Fererari or coming to assist Twist. Cops are not embracing or discounting the mom's theory ... and the investigation is ongoing.

Guerra's mom wants the LAPD to show her the surveillance footage so she can see for herself, but they've told her it's an ongoing investigation so no dice.

We've contacted Bieber's camp for comment, but haven't heard back yet.

Ashton Kutcher got aggressive with the paparazzi outside of a popular restaurant on Melrose Ave. last night -- but the whole tough guy act may have just been a cover to keep his allegedly pregnant girlfriend away from cameras.

Ashton and Mila Kunis were eating dinner at Carlitos Gardel Restaurant in Hollywood -- great Argentinian food -- and it also happens to be smack in the middle of a heavily-trafficked celeb sighting area.

So, the paps (not TMZ) were surprised when Ashton emerged from the restaurant and tried to strong-arm the photogs into leaving the scene.

During the confrontation, one of Ashton's associates can be seen in the background quickly escorting Mila into Kutcher's ride ... as if they're trying to slip past the cameras.

FYI -- Mila was wearing a baggy shirt and baggy jeans. So, the mystery remains.

A photog has filed a lawsuit against P!nk and her husband Carey Hart in the wake of their nuclear brawl back in June ... claiming he was physically beaten and humiliated during the fight ... and even called a "pedophile."

Boris Issaei claims he was trying to snap P!nk while she was changing her daughter's diaper in a playground at the Malibu Country Mart... and P!nk's husband Carey snapped, saying, "You f***ing c*** ... You f***ing pedophile." P!nk allegedly added, "You're photographing my baby naked."

Boris says Carey's friend then went on the attack ... kicking him in the shin, stomping on his feet, and kneeing him in the groin. He claims his camera equipment was damaged during the melee.

Boris claims P!nk even added insult to injury, insisting Boris deserved the beating for his actions.

He's suing for assault and battery, and destruction of his camera equipment ... demanding unspecified damages.

We posted video of the altercation soon after it happened, showing Carey's friend attacking him. Cops were called to the scene, but no arrests were made.

One of Justin Bieber's bodyguards got busted in the most chill place on Earth -- for getting violent with a photographer and his equipment ... TMZ has learned.

The alleged tussle went down on the island of Kauai Wednesday ... when Bieber and his crew were jumping off the famous cliff on Shipwreck's Beach.

According to cops ... a 29-year-old man was snapping pics of JB & co. until one of Bieber's hired hands approached and demanded he delete all his photos.

The photog refused ... and claims the bodyguard -- Dwayne Patterson -- then got physical ... assaulting him and damaging his camera.

The alleged victim couldn't have been too hurt -- he told cops he had no injuries and refused any medical attention.

Patterson was booked for 3rd degree assault and 4th degree criminal property damage. He was released on $3,000 bail, aka ... Justin's pocket change.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen's former bodyguards are finally facing the music after shooting at two photogs during the couple's Costa Rican wedding in 2009 -- the hired muscle was just sentenced to 5 years in prison.

The two bodyguards Miguel Solis and Colombian Alexander were convicted of attempted murder today in a Costa Rican court.

As we reported, the pair opened fire on a couple paparazzi who had been snapping photos of the nuptials. The photogs attempted to drive away, and the bodyguards shot at their car, shattering the back window. Neither pap was injured.

After the shooting, one of the photogs told a reporter, "I could have lost my life for the sale of some pictures that Gisele didn't want published. Are they insane?"

Tom had denied their bodyguards had guns.

Sylvester Stallone wouldn't say the n-word to anyone -- paparazzo or otherwise -- so says the man's wife ... who tells TMZ, she's known him for 25 years and he's NEVER ONCE uttered the slur.

Jennifer Flavin was at LAX earlier today when we asked about the video we posted last week, showing Sly gesturing at a black photographer and saying what sounds like "This f**king n***er here, this f**ker."

But Flavin says everyone heard wrong -- and insists her husband's a good guy.

Alec Baldwin's daughter says her dad was wrong for dropping an anti-gay slur this week on a camera guy in NYC ... but it still doesn't make the actor a homophobe.

Ireland Baldwin took to Twitter Saturday afternoon to speak out about the video we posted Thursday of Alec clearly calling a photog a "c**ksucking f*g" ... even though he claims to have said otherwise.

Ireland made her stance clear saying "my dad is far from a homophobe or racist" ... before putting the blame on paparazzi for getting in Alec's grill.

She adds, "Sometimes we let our tempers get the best of us. Tempers are like wildfires. Something or someone can easily fuel the fire."

Alec Baldwin has one less place to rant ... MSNBC suspended the actor from his talk show for hurling homophobic slurs -- and he's finally admitting what he said was "offensive."

Baldwin released a statement saying ... "I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have – and for that I am deeply sorry."

Baldwin's issued his apology after MSNBC announced it was yanking his weekly show off the air tonight and next Friday.

Alec seems to be rationalizing his rage though, saying ... "What I said and did this week, as I was trying to protect my family, was offensive and unacceptable."

Baldwin originally claimed he yelled, "c**ksucking fathead" ... instead of "c**ksucking f*g" ... while chasing a photographer on Thursday.

Hard to believe ... but some of Alec Baldwin's gay friends in NYC love him even MORE -- not less -- after hurling his anti-gay slur at a paparazzo yesterday.

Nick Berrios, Baldwin's openly gay hairdresser was on "TMZ Live" and told us he and his friends just love all of Alec's drama ... which sounds just a tad bit cliche.

Sylvester Stallone had some harsh words for a paparazzo in Beverly Hills Thursday ... grousing, "This f**king n***er here, this f**ker."

Sly was leaving Caffe Roma with a friend. They were followed by a group of photogs. Sly then hurls the racial epithet. It comes at 7 seconds into the clip.

The video is a little difficult to hear, but as Sly turns the corner and looks over his right shoulder -- back at the paparazzi -- you clearly hear him use the n word. A little later in the video, you hear a female photog say to Sly, "Why the racial slurs?"

There were African-American photogs shooting Sly at Caffe Roma, but it's unclear if the epithet was directed at them.

1:35 PM PT: Sly's reps now tell us the words Stallone used were "f**king idiot."