Liborio Molina, the manager of Californian hip-pop group the Black Eyed Peas, has formally apologised to gossip king Perez Hilton, as part of a deal stemming from assault charges being dropped by the internet blogger.

Back in June the manager of the “My Humps” outfit was outside a Toronto nightclub when he allegedly punched Hilton from behind. The reason? Molina was furious about Hilton slurring Peas’ frontman will.i.am a “faggot” in one of his online posts. (Hilton is openly gay.)

“I apologise for what I did on June 22 of 2009, even though you engaged in highly offensive comments ... I acknowledge that these kinds of issues should not be resolved through a physical response,” read an apology by Molina, which was relayed to reporters by his solicitor, Mark Sandler, outside a Los Angeles courthouse. Molina has agreed to not contact Hilton or carry any weapons for 12 months, to stay at least 100 metres away from the Toronto nightclub, as well as donate $AUS500 to charity as part of the deal.

Hilton’s lawyers said that while they were unhappy with the working of Molina’s statement, the blogger is “looking forward to reading his letter of apology”.

“I think everything that needed to be said has pretty much been said,” Molina told waiting reporters.