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Snap! Jude takes law into his hands
Last updated at 14:58pm on 23.07.09Jude Law insisted today he did not mean to hit a woman photographer outside a London club in the early hours and said her claims that it was deliberate were “nonsense”.
The photographer, Harsha Gopal, was pictured reeling away in pain as she was struck by the actor at the Automat in Mayfair at 12.30am. She said she may press charges against him.
Long arm of Law: star Jude Law hits a photographer as she tries to take a picture of him leaving a club
in Mayfair
Miss Gopal, 28, was among a group of photographers waiting to catch the celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, attending a dinner.
She said: “After I'd taken a few pictures I was starting to move away when I felt his hand come across my face, and there was a push. There was a massive thud and my face is still stinging.
Night out: the Hamlet actor leaves Automat in the early hours of today, moments before the clash
“It was deliberate — you could see it in his face. Maybe he didn't realise he was hitting a girl, but he could at least apologise,” said Miss Gopal, who is in talks with the News of the World over selling her story.
But the 36-year-old actor's lawyer, Graham Shear, said: “This is all nonsense. Last night's incident was an accident. Jude was blinded by camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close. He apologised and left.”
Getting ready: the photographer is about to take Jude's picture
He added: “Pictures of this sort can often be misleading.”
Snap before the slap: photographer captures Jude on film
Law, who is appearing in Hamlet, had a previous run-in with paparazzi. He was arrested on suspicion of attacking a photographer outside his Maida Vale house in 2007. But he denied the claims and the case was dropped.
Hitting out: the woman photographer holds her head as Hamlet star Jude Law appears to slap her
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Reader views (31)
I am photographer myself, everything about the paparazzi you saying is true they are out of control. They are happy to do all kind of nonsense to celebrities, they are grossing the line, but if something happens to them, they cry like babies, anyway, those kind of things came with the territory of been a paparazzi! An accident is an accident. He did not plan to hit anyone.
- June, london
It is easy to pass judgement when you are not there and are judging from the other side of the world what happened. Everyone reads papers and magazines (many of which would be empty without pap pics) so it is clear that WE as a public want to see such pictures.
Otherwise, would we really know who Jude Law is?
Somebody who ought to be setting an example should not behave like this.
An increase in punishment towards paps would arguably increase the recession - who would buy the papers and magazines?!?!?!
- Anna, Islington
listen all u narrow minded pathetic stereotyping planks !! paps are doing a job , same as a bus driver, lorry driver , traffic warden, clampers, or the miserably stuck up **** who works in marks n spencers , !!! n what makes me laugh when all theese celebs started out , it was funny how the first person they called when they were on there way to a club is a pap to let them know were when they would be , to get media exposure, n belive me i know i received the calls my self !!
yet all you short sited people sit there reading every newspaper n mag!! n what tops it all off u tell me a single person who wouldn't be willing to take a picture of a celeb when the price for a single picture could sell for anywere between £ 200,000 - £500,000!! mugs
- London Pap, london
Doesn't look like he 'hit' anyone from my perspective he was using his arm as a barrier to keep a distance boundary. How is her face still 'stinging' exactly? These stupid paps will do ANYTHING to sell a photo and it truly looks like this one has thrown the back of her head on to Law's forearm. As others have said, if anyone else behaved in such a manner they'd be arrested or sectioned.
- Real, London
Something needs to be done about these pap scum. If they were a "normal" person, they'd be charged with stalking, causing a public nuisance and harrassment. It's disgusting what they're allowed to get away with.
If I were mayor, I'd bring in a law to enforce punishment of paps who jeer and invade. Scum, utter scum.
- Liz H, London
Its time the paparazzi were hauled up for harrassment and stalking. A line needs to be drawn where the photographers are brought in for official shoots / official publicity work but this constant invasion of privacy is just too much.
Does the general public give a damn where Jude Law was last night and with whom? He's a single bloke, working in London, he likes to meet his mates have a few drinks and go to a club, what is the big news in that?
- Harsh But Fair, London
She's in talks with NOTW to sell her story ... says it all doesn't it? Another scumbag out to make a quick buck from a fabrication.
- John, London
I agree with Kate from London. That woman is a LIAR and yes, she should be arrested for public disorder, threatening behaviour, stalking, harassment. whatever. She was obviously getting into his space, and with all the lights going off in his face I doubt he could see anything. It's too bad he didn't smack her in the head with her own camera. A real injury might motivate her to find a real job.
- Cheesed, Beaverton, Earth
the paparazzi are scum, how it be acceptable to photoraph people without their permission?
- Diarmuid Bulanda-Dineen, London
He had been very patience with photographers every nigth outside the theater, they are out of control. The ligths of the flashes are annoying and you can't see anything. I think They are using her genre (female) to make him look bad, and that is disgusting. All my life I have been fighting with the fact that female aren't diferentt to male at work, and people like her make us take a step back.
- Eloisa, Caracas, vz
i think she deserves it really, getting so close to him and sticking a camera in his face...there was probably a million people taking his picture, and he cant have been able to see a thing!
- Freddie, london, england
It's amazing isn't it? These days people get their snouts in the trough quicker than you can say Max Clifford.
- Steve, London, UK
Who is he?
- Alex., brighton
She's right in his face and he is obviously blinded by the flash. I don't think it's hard to understand why he would try to get her out of his face. Stupid paps - just like flies aren't they.
- Pole, Denmark
I've seen the series of photos related to this, and it appears that Jude was blinded by flash bulbs (hence his expression), and had put his arm up to shield his eyes, inadvertently hitting her. It also looks as if he turned back to apologise in a pic taken from another angle, where he was beginning to hold up his other hand to shield his eyes. If there were a scuffle, I presume that all of the photogs there would have gotten in on the act, at least verbally, but I think it was a misunderstanding...either that, or she's preparing to milk it for some money. It's unfortunate really, because who would believe that Jude would purposefully attack a photographer at this point, and to choose to attack a female? But of course it will be blown out of proportion, just like everything with celebrities is. They are going to be wrong no matter what just because people want to bring them down.
- Sheryl, US
"unprovoked" she says, holding a large camera aimed at his face from one metre and firing fit-inducing strobe flashes?
- Bloke, London
those paps should be hung from the yard irons. they torment these actors. how would anyone like flashbulbs in their face everywhere they go. the man was trying to protect himself and inadvertantly touched her. he's polite and patient backstage at the hamlet performance. signs all the autographs and poses for pics with the fans.....what more do they want. jude is entitled to a little bit of privacy. the paps are low life....they should apologise to him.
- Dolores Craeg, florida...usa
Those pictures clearly show that he did not slap her on the face. She was turned around when he raised his arm. Do you know how bad those camera flashes feel when they hit you in the face all at the same time? Also, it was dark how would he know if somebody was beside him much less if it is a woman?
People should not be too quick to judge. Anyway I think paps are scum.
- Jazz, USA
that photographer is a good looking chick. Jude's dipped out with her then!
- Albert Hall, Kettering
Good for him. Paparazzi are very aggressive, they try to upset people and then moan. I'll bet she's sold the pictures for more money than she would have got otherwise. I'll bet the whole thing was planned.
She should be arrested for public disorder, threatening behaviour, stalking, harassment. whatever.
- Kate, London, UK
If you go to a place like that you know what awaits when you come out so the man is an idiot. Come down my local, no one will give a second glance.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey
Well done that man!
Paps are scum. It is totally unacceptable the way they invade others' privacy - as if having a camera gives you the right to behave in such a rude and intrusive way.
Everybody has a right to complete privacy when they are leading their private lives. Those who intrude on this privacy deserve all they get.
As for the pathetic, whiny comments about her being a woman - so what? If someone behaves badly they deserve a good slap, whether they are a man or a woman.
Funny isn't it how feminists only want equality when it suits them? If women want to be treated like ladies they should act as such - sweet, demure and gentle. If they want to act like men then on their own heads be it.
- Timon, London
Jude Law had two performances of one of the most difficult roles in the whole of world theatre behind him. He had a right to relax, to leave the club and make his way home without being bothered by some photographer with no respect for his privacy.
- Clarissa, Paris, France
Zac,
I've heard the behaviour of some of these "photographers". They are lowlifes. Perhaps the women involved did nothing to deserve it but if she did I dont accept that she should be able to use the fact that she is a women as protection. Perhaps if you had your every move hounded and had disgusting insults made about those close to you, you would also snap occasionally. I happy to try it out on you if you like.
- John Entwistle, Hertford
I doubt very much he'd have done this if the pap had been a man.
- Jc, London
Serves her right. These paps wind people up to get a reaction and then claim innocence when they get one. By the way, in these days of equality, there shouldn't be any difference between hitting a woman and hitting a man, so people should stop harping on about the fact it was a woman. Overall hardly like the kind of injuries people are getting in Afghanistan is it?
- Rob, London
Good for him. These photographers are out of control.
- Jon, London
She was full on in his face and invading his space and privacy: she deserved it.
- Janet, London
She stuck a camera in his face. Deserves everything she gets.
- Crash Gordon, London
EDITED by admin @ 14.56 on July 22 2009
Legal reasons
- Michael, London
REMOVED by admin @ 14.56 on July 23 2009
Legal reasons
- Zac, orpington
