Rivera Nose Broken as ‘Skinhead,’ Rights Activist Brawl on Set

A brawl erupted on the set of Geraldo Rivera’s morning talk show Thursday between right-wing “skinheads” and black civil rights activist Roy Innis, leaving Rivera’s nose broken and bloodied.

The melee began after John Metzger, head of the White Aryan Resistance Youth, called Innis an “Uncle Tom” and Innis stood up to confront him. When Metzger started to get out of his chair, Innis put a hand on his shoulder and then grabbed Metzger around the throat with both hands.

As the two men struggled, about 25 audience participants, including several other “skinheads,” stormed the stage and began fighting.

During the brawl, a man identified by a spokeswoman on the show as a bodyguard for Metzger, hurled a chair. Rivera rushed to Innis’ defense and was struck in the face in a flurry of punches, show spokeswoman Jennifer Geertz said. She said Rivera’s nose was broken.

The show, titled “Young Hate Mongers,” featured Innis, the head of the Congress of Racial Equality, Jewish activists and leaders of several white supremacist youth groups known collectively as skinheads for the shaved scalps sported by many members.