Russell Brand arrested at LAX after altercation with photographer

British comedian Russell Brand was arrested Friday at Los Angeles International Airport after getting into a physical altercation with a photographer.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. at Terminal 5 at LAX. Details were still sketchy, but sources told The Times that Brand exchanged words and allegedly hit a paparazzi who was following him through the airport. It's unclear whether he was about to take a flight or was arriving in L.A.

Brand was being taken to the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division station, where he is expected to be booked on suspicion of battery. It's unknown if the photographer was hurt.

Last year, singer Kanye West got into a physical altercation with members of the paparazzi at the airport. He was also arrested.

LAX officials said they've been trying to reduce problems between celebrities and aggressive photographers at the airport.

--Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[Marley]

It really should be illegal what these photographers do. Harassing people, saying mean things or just following them with a camera must be annoying as hell and I would probably lash out too. Only those wannabe reality types, starved for attention truly enjoy this behavior. TMZ sucks!

[Post]

LAX can get a handle on it by citing the photographers for a nuisance violation rather than arrest the person being stocked!

[Marshall McGluhan]

Andrew Blankstein, love your work, but the singular for paparazzi is paparazzo.

[monica]

I personally do not know Russell Brand but he appears on film to be crude, rude and classless

[Stubby]

I think someone who takes your picture without your permission, even in public, especially in a stalking and threatening manner, is guilty of invasion of something, whether it be personal space, personal peace of mind, or privacy. These filthy paparazzi should be stopped. I can't believe it isn't legal to knock the hell out of them. Our laws need to be changed.

[Charles Morgan]

one comment needs spell check: it's spelled "stalked" not "stocked"

and as to the comment that implies that an actor whose movie character "appears" "classless" people deserves to be stalked and harassed, all I can say is your comment is frightening.

[Lee]

Person being "stocked"....LOL!

[Chris B c]

"LAX officials said they've been trying to reduce problems between celebrities and aggressive photographers at the airport." On that note maybe it should be the photographer being arrested. As rude and classless as he may be that doesn't give anyone the right to invade his privacy. Tired of always hearing about these stories maybe they should cancel TMZ and it will all go away.

[Krysti Agosta]

Here is an idea: If someone is not flying, mayhaps they need not be at the airport!

[darrell griffin]

Come on people. Do not expect any more than the lowest of the low from Russell. He makes sensational comments to promote his career at the expense of other peoples welfare. He is irrelevant. He just does not matter. He is a boob. Look up "boob" in the dictionary and you will see his picture.

[Barbara]

Why are the Paparazzi allowed at airports anyway?They should be banned from airports.L.A.X. security should ONLY be focused on the homeland and the safety of the many travelers.

[DG3]

Why don't the photogs get arrested?

[Charlie Chaplin]

Oh come on, why can't the LAPD free the comedian and arrest career criminals? There are far more career criminals in L.A. doing serious damage to persons, property and community than a British comedian, whose career goals is making people laugh and happy. Give the Brit a break!

[Edward]

If "LAX officials" are trying, they are doing a disorganized and piss-poor job of it!

[jgiven]

Stubby -

Violent self-help is generally frowned upon as a method to free oneself of the petty annoyances of being a celebrity. In other words, I wouldn't hold your breath on legislative action legalizing paparazzi beatings by disgruntled celebrities. That said, it would be nice if anti-paparazzi laws would be passed/strengthened so that celebrities and others who are harassed and inconvenienced would have a means to keep these conflicts from rising to this level.

[TU MADRE]

PAPARAZZI = PARASITES!! I hope that new law passes... Artists do deserve some privacy as well.

TU MADRE!!!

[Joe Randone]

I for one am happy to see Celebrity Crusader Russell Brand take a stand against the these vile parasites who have the audacity to take a picture of him at the airport.

[john, burbank]

the paparazzi are useless scumbags, and more often than not they provoke confrontation. always good news when one catches a beating. celeb or not, you should be entitled to catch a plane or enjoy a meal without some douchebag invading your space or shoving a camera in your face. if i was a celebrity i'd be arrested every other day for knocking these idiots out.

sadly, it's a product of society. there's a vibrant market for tabloid crap that caters to the lowest common denominator.

[theconlib]

The stalkarazzi are just a plague on this city. Can somebody explain to me why I can't park there to pick somebody up but these guys can cause a frenzy of leeches that act like they are real journalists? Scum bags, all of them. If you defend these guys then you need to take a long look at yourself and imagine if this happened to you everywhere you went. SCUM. Plain and simple. Get a real job!

[Brad]

lol Monica....its a movie...maybe he is different in real life...besides..he was friggin hilarious in Forgetting Sarah Marshall

[Joe]

i agree that it must be annoying to have these people basicalkt stock you but unfortunately its a price you pay for being famous, laws do need to be changed as everyone deserves privacy but yet if it wasnt for most people buying magazines they could take endless pictures and it wouldnt matter cause no one would pay them for it but then again these celebrities make millions on being famous and people being nosy and if they dont like it then maybe they are in the wronr business.

[shahnaynah]

so...."Post"........the correct spelling is s-t-a-l-k-e-d.
Monica......Russell Brand is an ACTOR...it's all an act...duh!
Stubby.....you are 100% correct

cannot believe i've actually posted a comment re: a news article. Felt good to get that off my chest.

[Brian]

Sound logic, Monica. While we're at it, someone should probably arrest Johnny Depp for his frequent acts of piracy, Denzel Washington for being a corrupt cop, Anthony Hopkins for being a serial killer, etc.

[onelife]

I'm not of fan of Brand. But, I hate the paparazzi. Unless they are going to a "hot spot" leave them the eff alone! No one wants to see a photo of a celeb in an airport any damn way. I liked it when Tyson knocked one out last year at LAX.

[Marc]

I was at the Sir Francis Drake hotel bar in San Fran a few years ago having drinks with coworkers and Russell Brand was there. One of my co-workers was British and a HUGE fan of his. She approached him and he was actually very quiet and polite, talking with her for a bit and even taking a photo. So I'd say don't judge him based on characters he plays in movies, in-person he was quite the gentleman.