Comedian Chris Rock hired Hollywood detective Anthony Pellicano to find incriminating information on a woman who filed a paternity claim against him.
The private eye allegedly searched confidential criminal databases for incriminating information on Hungarian model Monika Zsibrita, according to court records.
Rock‘s spokesperson, Matt Labov, confirmed Monday that the comedian’s representatives had hired Pellicano, after the model alleged she was pregnant with Rock‘s child in 1999.
Rock was separated from his wife when he met Zsibrita and two subsequent DNA tests revealed that he was not the child’s father.
Labov said that Pellicano, at the time he was retained, had an “excellent reputation” as an investigator and that no one associated with Rock had any idea he would illegally access police files, as federal authorities have alleged.
Labov explains, “No one from our camp would have ever knowingly entered into an agreement with Pellicano to do anything illegal.”
Zsibrita is planning to file a claim against the City of Los Angeles, alleging that her civil rights were violated because her confidential records were turned over to Pellicano.
According to her lawyer, Neville Johnson, “She is very upset to learn that her privacy was violated in various ways.”
Pellicano, 61, is currently behind bars awaiting trial for the illegal wiretapping of powerful Hollywood stars, including actors Sylvester Stallone and Keith Carradine, comedian Garry Shandling, and producer Aaron Russo. He has pleaded not guilty.
