'Dark Knight's' Bale 'wishes he just left the room,' friend says

The British press is spinning like a top: Not only is "The Dark Knight" (with an English director and Welsh-born star) making history at the box office, now it has two tawdry off-the-screen subplots. Heath Ledger's overdose death in January would seem to have very little to do with Christian Bale's recent family feuding, but not according to MailOnline. 

The Batman star is accused of confronting his mother after she allegedly insulted his wife, MailOnline has learned. According to its account: "Sources close to the actor said he 'flew off the handle' at London's Dorchester hotel after Jenny Bale said 'some outrageous things.' "

Tuesday, the Welsh-born actor was arrested and released over an assault claim, which he has denied. According to MailOnline, "a source close to the 34-year-old actor says Bale is confident he’s done nothing wrong, and blames his mother." More excerpts after the jump.

-- Geoff Boucher

Photo credit: Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times

He is also said to have become depressed over the death of close friend and co-star Heath Ledger.

The source said: ‘Christian was stressed, but he didn’t lay a finger on anyone. Instead, he flew off the handle and cussed his mother. He just got very loud because his mother was saying some very outrageous things about him, and his wife.’

‘Christian's attitude is that this was his mother's fault because she became very provocative in an argument they were having,’ the source said, adding: ‘Things got out of control and he now says he wishes he just left the room.

‘Normally Christian would just call a friend and go out to a pub to cool off. But he was literally trapped into this confrontation with his mother and sister because there was an army of fans and paparazzi outside.’

The incident apparently comes at a time when his marriage to Sandra 'Sibi' Blazic, a former model and make-up artist, is enduring difficulties.

'He has stresses in his marriage,' the source said. 'He can have a terrible temper. Instead of lashing out at his wife, he sometimes lashes out at people around him.' The source added: ‘His marriage is not perfect, but his relationship with his mother is in much more trouble."

See what more MailOnline has to say about Bale and his family crisis.

Comments

[Appalled_UK Welwyn Garden City]

It makes me sick. I couldnt care less but communist facists are betraying our freeodms. It is vital that we bring back floggig and the death penalty i say. You couldn’t makei t up!

[DorkKnight]

Paging Dr Freud....

[d]

I gave him the benefit of the doubt from the beginning. It seemed more likely his mother and sister are trying to get money from him and being greedy and unsupportive. It "it is a family matter" as she is quoted as saying, why did she take it to the police? Stupid reaction in a fit of jealous rage. the guys probably pulling 22hr days plus jet lag, getting peppered with questions of a friends death, give him a break. Nice to see someone writing that's not taking stabs at him.

[Rheana]

Christian Bale should be left alone. He is a human being like anyone else and when stress occurs its not always easy when you lose a friend, have a family, and are working in an effort to always perform your best. In my book he is still respected and deserves a round of applause along with his coworkers on an amazing new film, Bravo!

[aaron]

EH... Just let the guy be. He will figure it out.

[Tyler]

Christian Bale is an introvert, he just simply isn't a huge people person that revels in the normal hollywood stuff so when things get hectic and the stress starts piling on, I'm sure the pressure on him is unimaginable. The NY Post blew this story way out of proportion, big surprise there. This is something I'd expect to find in tabloids, not newspapers. I'm surprised to see a decent article on this topic in the LA Times of all places.

[Matt W.]

How embarrassing to have your own mother and sister drag what sounds like a family argument into the spotlight like this. Seems like his mother and sister are the ones with the problem.

[Joe]

Jeez..Leave the guy alone. He's not Batman, you know.

[littlebirdy]

I know what it is like to have a disfunctional mother and I really feel for Christian Bale because I have been in similar situations where my mom just pushed those buttons just like she knows how. No one is perfect . He needs to be left alone and his mom needs help. He will be in my prayers

[barb]

Sounds like mom was way out of line in what she said. Why would there even be any discussion of this if mom +/or sister didn't call in the police. He probably shouldn't have cussed at his mom but maybe they were just as bad in talking about he and his wife, are they being charged? What is it that they want from him or to do to him? Why now, when this film is opening? Sounds like he doesn't have a very supportive family. If your family can't support your decision on life partner and help through difficult situations then maybe it's time to cut off ties to the family.

[amie]

poor christian. he is probably still very upset over heath, stressed with all the premieres, and his personal problems. His mother and sister are probably nagging him to death and, like so many others think, are money hungry for his success. Everyone knows that Christian is a genuinely nice guy-signing alot of autographs, giving fans attention, and being so solemn and polite in his interviews. I think his mother and wife should let him be, for sure.

[Sandy G. from SoCal]

Now the LA Times is in on the action??!! We have a bloody war going on and the spin doctors want to hear about (what should be) the private life of an actor? Get a life, save a shelter animal, feed the poor, help the lonely, but leave this dear gentleman alone. Over and out.

[kool keith el otro]

linkie no workie (for the article you're referencing - there's no URL)

I agree though with other commenters though, let the guy have an argument with his mom... sigh, price of fame I guess

[azjudyann]

Hey, ladies, let's give the man credit for sticking up for his wife! Granted it may not have been the BEST way to go about it, but to many men side with dear old mom against the woman they should be defending.

[dean]

bale shouldve slapped his mother right on that loud mouth of hers!

[jim]

It sounds outrageous the claim, but the fact is many celebrities have horrific family members who are jealous of their success, berate them, and only want their money. Ive seen it with so many friends, especially in lower income areas. What kind of mother gets her son riled up like this, at a time when she should be proud and happy of him and his achievement.

Sounds like a case of family jealousy to me.

[Susan]

I think that Christian Bale's family should have dealt with this like a family and not brought the law into it. That's ridiculous. If he was physically abusive that is one thing, but it sounds like his mom and sister were trying to be controlling at a very stressful time in his life. Good for him for sticking up for his wife. If one can't trust his own family to believe in him then he needs to cut ties for sure. Even if his marriage is struggling, that is his personal business. It is really too bad that the media and sometimes family has to make your private life public. Sad and ridiculous. We all have bad days, thank God we aren't all published in the New York Times about our bad ones huh!

[Marlana]

Seeing the movie last night, *I* should have left the 'room'!!!

Christian, being a mother is a no-win situation. So, bite your tongue -- you only get one mother in this life, believe it or not.

[Jim]

NY Post is a tabloid.

[Ray]

christian has my prayers. all we can do. it is sad stuff like this has to get blown out of proportion. none of us is perfect. the best to him and his family. we do not know christian, most will judge him on this. very sad. as a society, we are too judgemental.

[JBBW]

BORING - just leave the guy alone. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Louis]

Yeah, lets just leave Batman alone. Everyone is guilty of yelling at their Mum's so why give it such acclaim. And why say he beat her. I mean, I hope he did not actually hit his Mom, but who really knows what happened besides the people who were there?

[Miss Thang]

Sounds maybe like dear old former-performer Mom misses being the center of attention. Then again who knows, and who cares? Love the guy's work and another press cluster-f*** won't keep me away. Oh and kudos for defending your wife, CB. You're ok in my book.

[KmB]

Christian Bale is ENGLISH.

He was born in WALES, but his parents are NOT WELSH.

If you asked him, he'd tell you he was English...but born in Wales.

[penguin]

Not truly a story in my opinion and the article has at least 3 typos. Do they not have spell check in Gotham?