Tommy Hilfiger's side of the story

Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has defended his alleged "attack" on rocker Axl Rose, insisting he was "just protecting myself."

The 55-year-old designer was photographed fighting with the Guns 'N Roses frontman at Rosario Dawson's 27th birthday at New York nightclub The Plumm last month.

According to reports, Hilfiger was annoyed by Rose's attempts to move his girlfriend's drink on a table and told him to put the beverage back.

The following day, Rose told a local radio station that Hilfiger kept "smacking" him.

Over two weeks later, Hilfiger has finally broken his silence over the incident to the New York Daily News.

He says, "I'm not a fighter. I was just protecting myself.

"He was being rude and obnoxious, and I just told him to cool it. I went after him before he could get me.

"Some people say, 'Good going,' but other people just want to know if I'm all right."

sfgate