Ke$ha Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Amanda Bynes Meltdown Part Deux and Harvey Levin Ambushed

Hollywood investigative journalist Mark Ebner discusses the background of the leaked tape of Stephen Collins, in which the actor allegedly confesses to child molestation. He also delves into the lawsuit by pop star Ke$ha against her producer Dr. Luke, as well as the latest apparent meltdown of Amanda Bynes.

Ebner assesses the way the Stephen Collins tape was provided to website TMZ. “I never like to give TMZ credit for doing anything right, first and foremost, mainly because they get these tapes, they’re courtroom rats, they’re the first ones to get the files on salacious Hollywood scandals. However, at the same time, they’re the last one to get both sides.

“Harvey Levin – the guy who runs TMZ – he needs to stop calling himself a journalist, because there’s nothing journalistic about what he does.”

On the possibility that the tape was leaked by Collins’ ex-wife Faye Grant – with whom the actor is in a bitter divorce battle with – Ebner said he’s still not sure about her motives. “If she knew this, one day prior, if she let a day go by, then she’s harboring a criminal.”

Although Grant turned over the tape to police in 2012, Ebner poses the question: How long before that did she know about the tape?

“Through his own words, on tape, he admits to as much, in graphic detail,” said Ebner about the allegations. “This is really important to know, so I have no sympathy for him. But at the same time, I question her motives, we have to look at that.”

He points out that if it was Grant’s intention to get a big payoff in a divorce settlement, she didn’t go about it the right way because she has now effectively killed his career, and therefore pretty much eliminated any potential revenue stream for herself. “What I want to know is why Faye Grant, the moment she knew about this, did not go to the police?”

The discussion also turns to pop star Ke$ha, who is currently suing her producer Dr. Luke for sexual assault and battery. “My question about this is, once again, in the department of horrible people, Ke$ha, why are you doing this in civil court? If all your allegations are true, why isn’t this a criminal matter?” Ebner asks.

“I know one part of it is, she’s trying to get out of his contract with him. So if the allegations are not true, she’s slinging mud to get out of that contract.”

Dr. Luke’s lawyers are contending that Ke$ha made their client aware of the complaint at least six months ago, and that she would file a lawsuit if he didn’t let her out of her contract. “There’s no end to the accusations that can be made in a civil suit – without having to worry about proof or repercussions or that sort of thing.”

Ebner gives some insight into TMZ chief Harvey Levin by reciting an experience he heard from an Israeli journalist who once ambushed Levin at his home in Venice, CA.

He said the journalist attempted to “doorstep” Levin in a tabloid-style manner. “And Harvey pulled up and the journalist said, ‘Mr. Levin, can I interview you?’ And Harvey said, ‘No, you have to go through my publicist, what’s going on here?’”

After the incident, Ebner said the journalist told him that he got an email from an Israeli man who was paid to protect Levin. “They came at him with all kinds of threats. To the point where he says, ‘And, as you may know, I know a lot of people in Israel.”

The discussion points out the contradictory nature of Levin’s encounter with the journalist, since TMZ’s bread-and-butter tactic is to ambush celebrities and press them to answer questions on the spot.

Speaking about Round 2 of an apparent meltdown by Amanda Bynes, and a likely new battle with her parents over conservatorship, Ebner said he does’t doubt the assessment that she clearly has mental issues.

“She’s really sick. You don’t just put anybody on hold, it’s takes quite a bit, there’s a lot of diagnostic stuff that goes on to have somebody sectioned. And that’s exactly what they did, so she really, really, is sick,” Ebner said. “So I’m willing to give her a pass on anything she said, including saying that her father abused her. I really feel bad for this girl and hope she’s getting the help that she needs.”

He says he trusts the medical community that decided that a 72-hour psychiatric hold was warranted for Bynes, but points out that the man who apparently convinced Bynes to go to Los Angeles from New York was Sam Lufti, who was involved at a similar stage in pop star Britney Spears’ life.