Pitbull `very surprised' by Lindsay Lohan lawsuit

Cuban-American rapper Pitbull said Thursday he was shocked to learn he had been sued by American actress and singer Lindsay Lohan, who claims the mention of her name in his hit song 'Give Me Everything' has caused her "irreparable harm".

"I was very surprised when I found out about the lawsuit," Pitbull said in a video message on his web site.

"It was very ironic, to be honest with you. At first I read it and I was like, 'Nah, this has got to be a joke', (but) come to find out it's very realistic," he said.

Lindsay objected to the line "Hustlers move aside, so I'm tiptoein', to keep flowin' / I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan."

The lawsuit filed last Friday in New York's Nassau County alleges that "by virtue of (the song's) wide appeal, condemnation, excoriation, disparaging or defamatory statements by the defendants about (Lindsay) are destined to do irreparable harm".

The 25-year-old actress, who was arrested twice in 2007, is seeking an injunction to prevent the song from being broadcast or sold and also is demanding unspecified monetary damages.

"In no way, shape or form would I want to bring that on anybody. I didn't look to defame, degrade or hurt someone's career," Pitbull said in the message.

"For me, mentioning (Lindsay's name) on a number one record around the world, I thought it would be helping someone's career, and keeping them relevant."

Pitbull also contends that he is a fan of the actress and was using her name in a positive context, adding that "when I say I got it locked up, if you're from the neighborhood, when they say, 'You got it locked up' that means you run that area".

The 30-year-old rapper said he has left the matter to his attorneys and extended an invitation to Lohan to accompany him to Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards show in Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to perform the song live.

More than 2 million copies of the song, which features background vocals by Ne-Yo, have been sold.