Washington, June 24 Homosexual celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has apologised to gay rights organisations for using an anti-gay slur during his recent confrontation with Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am.

The flamboyant blogger came under fire from leaders of The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) over the way he tackled a row with the hip-hop star.

Hilton alleged that he was left bleeding and in shock when will.i.am attacked him at an afterparty for the MuchMusic Awards in Toronto, Canada.

However, the star responded by insisting that there was no violence, and accused Hilton of branding him a "f**got" as they argued outside a nightclub.

Bosses at GLAAD were angered by Hilton's choice of words, and said that his comments were "vulgar".

Although the blogger initially refused to apologise to the organisation, he has now issued a statement reaching out to the gay community in regard to the incident.

"Words can hurt. I know that very well, from both sides of the fence. The other night in Toronto, after feeling physically threatened by a verbally abusive will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, I chose the most hurtful word I know to hurl at him. I was in an out-of-the ordinary situation and used a word that I would not utter under normal circumstances," Contactmusic quoted Hilton as saying.

He added: "I wanted to hurt him with the word I chose, not anyone else. Unfortunately, the one who got hurt was me and, subsequently, a lot of other people." (ANI)