Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has spoken out on why he hit Guns N' Roses' lead vocalist Axl Rose in 2006.

According to a Poison Ivy blog, Hilfiger, 58, was at the French Institute Alliance Francaise's Fashion Talks series, when he explained the brawl he had with the musician in the VIP area at the Plumm.

"Axl pushed me, and I said, 'That was rude'. He had a huge ring on. He wears all this jewellery," the New York Post quoted him as having said.

"I'm thinking, if I get hit, it's over. No teeth, no eye. So I hit him before he hit me. It was self-protection. Now we're friends," he added. (ANI)