CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS:

Pete Wentz has run-in with photog in Las Vegas

Rock musician celebrates 30th birthday at Bellagio bash

Sunday, June 7, 2009 | 6:57 p.m.

Kabik / Retna Digital

Pete Wentz celebrates his 30th birthday June 6, 2009, at The Bank in The Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Pete Wentz may be 30 years old but that doesn’t mean the Fall Out Boy has to act like it.

The bassist was in Las Vegas Saturday night to celebrate his 30th birthday and used the opportunity to spit in a photographer’s face.

The incident happened during Wentz’s highly-controlled birthday party in the VIP section at the Bank nightclub.

Wentz and a group of friends were ushered to one of the nightclub’s largest VIP tables just before midnight Saturday night, following a late birthday dinner across the Bellagio casino floor, at Yellowtail.

The rocker’s wife, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, 24, joined him for both dinner and the party but his notoriously blond sister-in-law, Jessica Simpson, did not attend.

Once seated, the group relaxed and had few beverages – Wentz had a few beers and Simpson-Wentz drank Champagne – while both fans and paparazzi looked on and snapped photos of the famous couple.

It wasn’t immediately clear what set the birthday boy off, but something about one of the photographers attending the party did not sit well with Wentz. He confronted the cameraman, then spat in his face.

Club security promptly removed the apparent offender from the area.

Wentz also left the scene, leaving the visibly upset Simpson-Wentz at the table.

He did not seem to think much of the confrontation, however, and apparently soon hit the dance floor without wife.

“I am the embodiment of Las Vegas right now,” he “tweeted” shortly after the run-in. “I have ‘reported’ to the dance floor. Thanks Bellagio. I need that 80 grand in chips,” he said in the Twitter dispatch.

The “80 grand” Wentz referred to in the message likely had more to do with the recently-released comedy “The Hangover” than any royalties he stands to collect, or may have already collected, from the nightclub.

In the movie, the characters lose, then need to account for, more than $80,000 in poker chips.

(Wentz referenced several of the movie’s twists and turns earlier in the day: “Doing Vegas: 1. Kidnap a small Asian dude 2. Steal Tysons (sic) tiger 3. Get a cop car. Step 1 accomplished. Hangover. Sin City here we come.”)

Though it is unknown how much the Light Group paid Wentz to party at their venue, it probably was not as lucrative as Wentz’ Twitter update might seem to suggest.

It is common practice for nightclubs to pay celebrities to “host” their birthday parties and other theme nights at a particular venue. The fees are said to run around $20,000 and up for bonafide stars, though a celebrity’s “bonafide star” status is debatable and financial details are rarely released.

Wentz’s apparent trip to the dance floor was a short one. He soon returned to his table and the night picked up where it left off prior to the confrontation with the photographer.

Before the group left the club, the staff presented Wentz with a baby blue birthday cake shaped like the number 30.

Wentz, who marked the big three-oh on Friday, refused to speak to reporters last night. Simpson-Wentz also declined to answer any questions, and chose not to pose for photographers on the red carpet the club erected for the event, as well.

The couple marked their first full year of marriage last month, on May 17, and welcomed their first child, son Bronx Mowgli, in November of last year.

Fall Out Boy will hit the road next month but so far has not announced any plans to stop in Las Vegas as part of the upcoming tour.

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

By denro

6/7/09 at 10:44 p.m.

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It seems to me that as a kid I learned to do that to someone was a very bad thing.

Why would people still have these these behaviors at this age?

I don't get it at all.

What am I missing?
By alohaseven

6/7/09 at 11:35 p.m.

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What a pointless waste of webspace.
By Pug_nation

6/7/09 at 11:39 p.m.

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Its simple enough - He and his skank wife are jerks. Rich and pretentious jerks.
By MysterMr

6/8/09 at 12:04 a.m.

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Was he there? Wow... Now that I see his picture, I realize I may have handed him our tray of used glasses along with my coat.

My bad. He should try being more famous next time.
By wantinitright

6/8/09 at 1:21 a.m.

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This jerk should have been arrested!! This was an obvious assault!! Anyone know if he has a spreading disease? Everyone jokes at how these overpaid (so called celebrity) are able to do what they wish because of their mopney and drunken actions! Where is metro? The individual who was spat(meaning spreading your phlem)upon should have clocked this jerk!!Knocked him out!! Anyone who would spit on me would be knocked out cold and had been arrested for an assault.This seems to be concurent with the bars in this town to allow these so called Paid HOSTS to have total control over what the managers should control! The manager of this establishment should be FIRED and arrested as a co-consperitor to the assault!
By Bakersfield

6/8/09 at 1:23 a.m.

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The only reason I read the article was to figure out who this "celebrity" was, and why anyone would care. I'm still trying to figure that out. Just another brat who for whatever reason might be considered a "celebrity". He could walk up to me and tell me his name and it wouldn't mean any more than any other average tourist on the strip.I was in a club a few years back when Jennifer Anniston showed up. She seemed like a nice enough person, but too big of a deal was made of her being there. At least she didn't act like this Wentz idiot.
By NVCitizen

6/8/09 at 7:49 a.m.

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Thanks for explaining who Pete Wentz is, because I didn't have the foggiest idea. And I agree: he should have been arrested for assault and then been tested for communicable diseases. As Bugs Bunny would say: "What a maroon!"
And once again I ask: Does Melissa Arseniuk get paid to write this drivel?
By labdaddy

6/8/09 at 10:47 a.m.

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I wouldn't want the taste of Ashlee Simpson in my mouth either!
By melissa (Staff)

6/8/09 at 11:24 a.m.

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NVCitizen: Yes, I do get paid to write "this drivel" -- but I don't force you to read it.

I'm glad you chose to, though, and I'm glad so many others continue to choose to, too.

Cheers and thanks for reading.
By NVCitizen

6/9/09 at 7:11 a.m.

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Melissa:

At least you agree that what you write is "drivel"!
By Rocco

6/9/09 at 8:44 a.m.

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isnt reading the comments after your story like an actor reading his movie reviews ..you shouldnt do it it waste of time.....for whats its worth...if i spit on some one at a casino i'm getting charged....isnt the vegas thing for celebs played out...red ropes and idiots....they will be the first to go when the revolution comes...
By denro

6/9/09 at 12:47 p.m.

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I miss the classy days of Las Vegas in the fifties.
By Boots

6/9/09 at 2:26 p.m.

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Whoever it was should have force fed him that camera.
"I am the embodiment of Las Vegas right now " All the while he picked camera parts out of his busted teeth. Spit through that!!
By vegascomedy

6/9/09 at 4:18 p.m.

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Working with the public, I encounter rude people on a daily basis. I can honestly say that spitting on someone has never crossed my mind.

Is spitting on someone considered assault?