Jude Law in storm after photographer sent flying
MOVIE star Jude Law yesterday dismissed claims that he attacked a photographer outside a restaurant.
He said the incident, where he was accused of hitting the 28-year-old woman, was “nonsense” and that it had been an accident.
The photographer, Harsha Gopal, claimed that the encounter happened as she tried to take pictures of Law leaving the Automat American Brasserie in London’s Mayfair in the early hours of yesterday morning.
But the British actor’s lawyer, Graham Shear, said yesterday that his client had only raised his hand to block out the flashes from all the cameras.
He added: “This is all nonsense. Last night’s incident was an accident.
“Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close.
“He apologised and left.”
Ms Gopal said: “There were only two photographers including myself outside when Jude Law left Automat.
“I took two or three pictures and then moved away to let him get past.”
She refuted the claims by the actor’s lawyer that Law had been shielding his face from the cameras flashes. She alleged: “He turned around after I had moved out of the way and slapped me.
“It was unprovoked. I was so shocked I could not react.”
He denied the allegation and the matter was dropped.
Ms Gopal claimed she still had a “stinging cheek” and was considering going to the police.
Law previously had a run-in with the paparazzi when he was arrested on suspicion of attacking a photographer outside his London home in 2007.
He denied the allegation and the matter was dropped.
The actor, who has appeared in films including Closer and Alfie, is currently appearing in Hamlet at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre.
