Celebrity accused of beating local businessman

NEW YORK — Celebrity photographer David LaChapelle has been sued for $1 million by a Bigfork gallery director who claims he beat and choked him.

According to the lawsuit, the Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone photographer attacked James Parmenter, 25, at a Manhattan apartment in March 2012.

The suit was filed Wednesday in Manhattan Supreme Court.

“LaChapelle pushed and threw Parmenter around the apartment, including into the bed, exercise equipment and closet, and choked Parmenter nearly to the point of unconsciousness,” the suit claims, according to the New York Post.

LaChapelle’s representative denied the allegations.

Parmenter has exhibited LaChapelle’s works at his Bigfork Collaborations gallery, where his prints go for more than $100,000 each.

According to the Post, the gallery owner suffered cuts and bruises from the alleged attack and is “afraid to return to his apartment for fear of further attacks by LaChapelle,” the suit says. LaChapelle, 49, has taken portraits of Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna and other celebrities.