Russell Brand was arrested on Friday on misdemeanor battery charges for assaulting a paparazzo, or several paparazzi. The paparazzi claim that they were just taking photos of Katy Perry and Brand when Brand attacked them. Brand and Perry’s story seems to be that the photographers had gotten too close, and that one of them was trying to shove his camera up Katy’s skirt, and Brand was just defending his lady’s honor. Or that the photographers were simply blocking his path – something like that.
Russell Brand was arrested at LAX on Friday afternoon, L.A. Airport Police confirmed to UsMagazine.com.
The British comic, 35, and his fiancee Katy Perry were going through airport security when Brand reportedly began pushing and striking photographers snapping pictures of the famous pair. One of those paparazzos then placed Brand under citizen’s arrest.
Brand was then interviewed by airport police and taken into custody. He and Perry, 24, did not board their schedule Delta flight to Las Vegas.
Russell Brand has been released from police custody for a misdemeanor charge of simple battery. His bail was set at $20,000. He is due to appear at an LA court on October 15th.
About the incident, Katy tweeted: “If you cross the line & try an put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me.”
[From Us Weekly]
Yeah, this seems like a non-incident, honestly. I’m surprised it went down like this, and that Brand was arrested. If it had gone down outside a club, I doubt anything would have come of it, but since it happened in an airport, everyone panicked. On one side, yes, I totally understand why Brand went berserk, and I think it’s sweet that he protected his girl, and if the pap was really shoving his camera up Katy’s skirt, then that is totally a violation. On the other side, why violently attack a photographer for any reason? That’s what they want. Don’t engage. Eh. Plus, there are a million Katy Perry up skirt photos – she’s always in miniskirts, and she’s always flashing. Whatever.
Russell, Katy, the police and the paparazzi during the incident on Sept. 17, 2010. Credit: WENN.
Why is beating a Paparazzo illegal? They’re the mosquitos of the 21st century, after all.
Hold up! Have you seen the video of Ms Moss & her daughter at LAX with the paparazzi? Its horrific! I imagine that these folks probably went through something similar. One, Brand probably shouldn’t have started swinging in reaction but the paparazzi also need to know that they don’t nor should they have a free hand to completely invade these people’s lives, literally. While I realize that I am making this on, yes, my favorite gossip website out there, I can also recognize when an instance crosses the line from self-propagated promotion/entertainment to harassment.
Not a fan of Russell Brand but paparazzi are a bunch of scum. They taunt the people they harass to try and get a reaction and when they get one, they go running to the cops. Bunch of pussies too!
California will hopefully pass an anti-stalking law. It is disgusting what paps do. No one deserves it – no one. If you ever watch a raw video of paps stalking someone, you can see how INSANE it is. They are animals, literally, stalking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEK_B4yrQ_c&feature=related
Whoa paparazzo doing citizen’s arrests?? Anyone can get a license to do that these days huh?
I think people are way too lenient on the papz. The argument is, “Well, they’re celebrities, they knew this came with the territory” but they are still citizens entitled to a right of privacy…and I think invading the 2 millimeters of personal space you have is an invasion of privacy for ANYone.
I watched the link, thanks.
it would drive me completely batshit, the flashing and the constant harassment.
I don’t think “it comes with the territory” at all.
along the same lines, I don’t think having police reports, autopsy reports, etc, leaked to the public is necessary.
Any stalker with a camera can call themselves a pap. My question is why does law enforcement allow this type of behaviour in, or anywhere near an airport. Aren’t the airports supposed to be one of the safest places you can go these days. I would feel very worried if I were in an airport that claimed to be safe from terrorists but couldn’t even stop a gang of paps. Just my opinion.
If we didn’t read and look at these web sites, the “poor” celebs would not be stalked.
^^ Thank U and the sad thing is while their in the limelight they’re all defensive and take lindsay and paris when they fall off they’re desperately trying to get their attention you do not get all of these hoards of money w/ zero sacrifices, suck it up and keep it moving if its such a prob invest in body guards they have it 2 spend
I read her tweet and kept feeling, isn’t that kinda sexist? She needs her ‘fiancee to protect’ her? Totally agree that the paps cross the line, but the way she worded it just made it sound kinda sexist to me. Like she’s a woman in need of her fiancee to protect her and her honour because she can’t hold her own. In where, medieval Englad? Although I guess the paps are like some plague in the middle ages hitting the continent and just as bad.
i agree with sousayi. that is exactly what i thought, too – what a delicate little rosebud katy must be. if someone tried to shove a camera under my skirt i would smash that camera – i don’t need mr. original kate to do it for me. my cootch ain’t for sale.
I told my other half about this incident, and his insight was, “I hope Russell left a bruise. There’s no excuse for trying to upskirt anyone. If it’d happened to you, I’d have punched his lights out, too.”
And yes, Katy can defend herself, but come on, throughout time, hasn’t it been one of those “bro code” things to deck anyone violating your lady love?
I get the whole “don’t engage the pap” argument, but at the same time, I’m not willing to have my knickers on the interwebs to prove a point.
Just because someone is recognizable does not mean they do not have the right to walk down a street or drive their car without a crowd 10 deep of middle aged gross men flashing bulbs and stalking their every move.
They somehow deserve it or signed up for it? I don’t think so. That is insanity and heartless. Next time some guys are giving a girl a hard time, be sure to tell her she should have worn a burlap sack or hired a body guard.
I’m totally capable of protecting myself, but in this type of case I’d want my DH to do it b/c he can hit harder.
I’m not a fan of Katy Perry or Russell Brand but I can understand his reaction.
The paps are scum. Period. But the big problem is that people out in America like the drama caused by it all. We eat it up. WE are the ones that fuel the desire for “upskirts” and fights, drama, etc. If there wasn’t a desire for it, the Paps wouldn’t get paid.
That being said the famous people do need protection they are human beings after all. But again, on the flip side hey freaking rich as hell and make more money in one day than I make in a whole year, so my sympathy for theese people only goes so far, heh.
Paparazzi rage is the new road rage. I bet you could make an argument for the stress of the paps causing psychological syndrome that lead to violent behaviour.
Actually I’m surprised Lohan didn’t try that one out in court.
I don’t normally care about paparazzi and the crap they do. I sort of walk the line of “that’s what happens when you choose to be a celebrity.
But paparazzi should be banned from airports. Those who work security at airports have enough to do without dealing with all this nonsense as well.
And I definetly appreciate that he stood up for his fiancée.
Goddamn that dude is fugly.
Rolling eyes at KPs smug, pathetic tweet.
Isn’t she supposed to be such a strong, rhino-like woman that she needed an uberman to control her amazingness? Not so much when it really comes down to it. Seems like she gets her piece to do her dirty work like every other trash-talking hoe. If someone upskirted me, I’d be the one going to jail for battery. Jeez!
Hmmm. I watched the video footage & if he was so concerned-wouldn’t he be walking with her, trying to shield her? Instead he was walking like he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
So many celebrities call the paps to let them know where they are. Not all of them, but you never know which ones.
Then they pretend to be upset and hate the paps but really it’s a mutualistic relationship.
I have a difficult time feeling sorry for celebrities because I never know when it’s just a big setup to get their names in the news.
I’ll give them a benefit of a doubt and say that what the paps did was wrong.
Well, if beating Rhianna is illegal, so is beating a paparazzi! There is NO REASON that justifies beating someone. Brand is yet another “actor”/whatever who thinks he is above the law because he is Russell Brand. I haven’t seen Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, or Jack Gyllenhaal beat up anybody… because no matter how much a person bothers you… YOUR reaction tells the world who you really are (and in this case, a jerk).
Russell Brand creeps me out.
If only he would present himself as someone not unaware of the notion of basic hygiene…
And skinny jeans… ??
I have absolutely no sympathy for the paparazzi. They are heartless, money-hungry, selfish fools. They killed Princess Diana… and have caused unnecessary stress on countless lives. This should be illegal! I hope this goes to the ballot. If anything, they should only be a minimum of twenty feet from the subject. I do not blame Russell Brand at all. If anything, he should have been allowed to make a citizen’s arrest on the scum.
Ugh. He seems so… skeezy. I can’t believe she would have sex with him! Were it me (but ne’er shall be, thankfully) he would have to stay celibate for 6 months and show me a full std blood check. No two ways about it!
And her tweet is sooo condescending. “my fiancee will do his job and protect me” oh boo hoo. Go call yo’ mamma. I hear she’ll speak in tongues.
I think before commenting everyone should watch the video of Kate Moss at LAX mentioned by inside scoop, the paparrazzi terrorizing her and her child and it is downright scary that their behavoir is perfectly legal. If the paps did half of what they were doing to Kate and her daughter then he was perfectly justified.
I watched the video on Radar a few days ago, the angle isn’t really good enough that you can actually see what the pap does, but as far as Russel’s reaction, it’s extremely minor. He basically just moves the guy out of his way, it’s not even a shove. The pap doesn’t fall down or stumble or anything, I’m very surprised that they’re calling it a crime. Especially considering what the paps are always getting away with. I think it’s pretty ridiculous what they’re allowed to do.
Also, Brand and Perry did have bodyguards, they kept saying ‘move aside’ and ‘excuse me’ but the paps kept jumping in their way on purpose. I think Russel was moving ahead with the bodyguards so that he could hep clear the way for Katy, but I could be wrong.
One of the only times I watched that TMZ tv-show-thing I was really freaked out by what I saw. They were basically mauling these ppl, even after they’d gotten in their cars. I would hate to have to drive surrounded by 20+ ppl flashing bright lights at me. and all those ‘flashing’ short skirt photos that were so popular for a while? Paps were holding their cameras down by the ground to get them, which I’m pretty sure is illegal when it’s done to someone who’s not a celebrity.
Russell Brand was walking fast out in front of Katie suddenly in the video because he was going specifically after the papparazzi who had just tried to shove his camera up Katy’s skirt out on the sidewalk He was drawing them away from her. Everyone here knows that photographer. Does it all the time, hopes for a reaction and a financial settlement. When Russell arrived the previous wednesday or thursday, they photographed him relentlessly from up close. It was very invasive and he looked exhausted from flight but just kept walking. Second I heard on Friday what happened, I said, “They did something to Katie. It’s the only reason he’d ever bother with him. And it was something that really crossed the line.” I was right. And don’t give me arguments about women in provocative clothing. That’s the old ‘she deserved it’ talk. This guy was hoping for the “money shot” up her dress. A shot like that pays over $100,000, possibly more.
Do some of these celebrities call the paparazzi? I have seen other cases where the celebrities have been swarmed by the paparazzi in airports. I don’t understand how the paparazzi know exactly when these people are coming and going at the airport in order to take a photo. Also since 911 I find it difficult to believe that airport security would allow people hanging around all day with cameras.
“Well, if beating Rhianna is illegal, so is beating a paparazzi!”
@ rosananna: really… a woman in a car getting beaten and choked into unconsciousness by her “boyfriend” is the same as an aggressive man getting smacked for attempting to shove a camera under a woman’s skirt? what planet do you live on?
Thanks for spending the time to discuss this, I really feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If attainable, as you develop into an expert, would you mind updating your blog with more details?