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

[Joseph G]

STUPID PAPARAZZI LET FAMOUS PEOPLE ALONE WHEN HE WANT BE ALONE GET A LIFE LOSERS POTOGRAPHERS JESUS CHRIST AND THE POLICE WHY NOT DEFEND CELEBRITIES AND ARREST THIS LOSERS PAPARAZZIS EH???

[The Dude]

Good for him. If I knew him, I'd post his bail. And isn't this a security risk anyways having these people NOT getting on or coming off of a flight. LAX is a terrorist target people!

[kirk wilson]

Excuse me, but it's part of the whole bit of being a celebrity, isn't it? If he doesn't want to have his picture taken, then maybe he should get a security job at the mall or wait tables or something.

[Herschel Greenspan]

Without the paparazzi this guy would not have a career. Without constant media attention one needs talent to suceeed.

[Scot]

Stubby you would be wrong.

You have no assumed privacy when you are out in public. However stalking is a crime and I am sure if I tried to just hanf around LAX I would get locked up and waterboarded. I guess working for a tabloid is ok?

[Lanerd]

The AZZ wipes with cameras need their butts kicked !

[Ryan]

I am so sick and tired of hearing about parparazzi. They are immoral people who constantly cross the line when it comes to assault and their behavior. Most celebrities don't just haul off and hit people. They are provoked. The paparizzi blind them with their flashes, curse at them or make rude comments to get a reaction, take pictures of family or children and even assault people by violating their personal space or even touching them with their cameras. I don't understand why the cops don't see that. These paparazzi are not even human beings, they are lower than low and deserve what is coming do them. One day in the news there is going to be a story about a paparazzi that got killed and I will cheer. You burn in hell paparazzi you scum

[fancy pants]

These annoying paparazzis need to get a damn grip!! They should be charged with stalking. I would have blown up 2 if i had someone following me around trying to take my pic with out my permission. Good 4 Rusell in sticking up 4 himself. And i hate that these dumb Paps always play the victims afterwards. Ban these pieces of Poops and start citing them! All in favor say, "Papa-PapaRazzi!!"

[Berty]

Freedom of the Press/Freedom of Speech--Your first constitutional Right/ammendment. Exercise it or someone else will do it for you!!! We live in America Jack/Jill!!!

[aunt deb]

So does that mean I can go and start taking pictures without permission, even if i am told to get away from you? I don't have to stop bothering you? I don't think so, and I don't think that just because your famous, people can bother you as much as they want.What if you are with your family and I start taking pictures of your wife or kids and start invading their space? I don't think anyone could just let that happen? do you?

[Ant]

Monica, you base your judgement on a persons character role in movies. Look who is classy now.

[Allan Johnson]

Seriously, I agree with Stubby whole-heartedly. Instead, the scum of the paparazzi... the TMZ now has a reality show and a channel on TV. Legal vultures.

[Ryot]

How on earth do paparazzi get into LAX?! For years now, if you don't have a ticket for a flight within a few hours, you can't get through security, period. Why the exception for paparazzi stalkers?

The airport should not be letting them through security. That would stop a lot of these incidents right there. But I do think LAX should ban the paparazzi completely, kick them out, keep them off of any LAX property, and have them arrested if they trespass. Think about it, any normal person hanging around the airport without a flight to board would be arrested by home land security. Let's start enforcing that at LAX, and make it a more welcoming gateway to LA for all the stars that have no choice but to fly in and out of there.

[jtbwriter]

When are the police going to start enforcing the law against the paparazzi and their violent behavior? Do we have to have another death like Princess Diana to rein them in? I hope Brand at least broke the SOB's camera!

[Louie65]

His fiance, Katy Perry is HOT

[Andre]

Wby the ariport authorities allow these scums papparazzis into the area just for passengers? It always happens inside the airport, not in front of the check-in area. I feel sorry for celebrities to deal with these scums.

[markiejoe]

TMZ strikes again!

First Adam Lambert and now Russell. I say You Go, Boyz! Put those papa-RAT-sies where they belong -- flat on the floor.

[Go away!]

It's always amazing. The celebrity gets blamed for trying to get from point A to point B with a loon toting a camera on his rear. If the average Joe tells an unwanted photog to go away, and the nuisance doesn't get it, the average Joe has a better chance of having a case! Hearing the nonsense that celebrities are "open game" is nuts.

[Don Agustin]

Photography is one of the most risky occupations. Wanabe stars seek out photographers as they work on their careers. Once they become stars their attitude changes. If there weren't a demand for those pictures, then paparazzi would not go looking for celebrities to shoot. A good way to stop that demand is to avoid celebrity gossip stories.
Taking pictures is so ridiculous right now. Downtown is a minefield. Rent a cops make laws on the spot. The L. A Times building is a good example, it cannot be photographed from the sidewalk around it, the rent a cops are vicious, but it can be photographed from across the street, unless the photographer is standing outside a building with an overzealous rent a cop, it will lead to a big confrontation. Federal buildings cannot be photographed from within their grounds, but taking a step onto a public sidewalk then it is allowed.
Anybody in a public place can be photographed. But to avoid confrontations it is good to ask for permission.

[Brad Edwards]

The photographer should be arrested and banned from the airport. People are due some respect and rights to privacy even in L.A.X.. The airport should have a sign posted NO Photography.

[CaliHATER]

Put him in a cell with Lindsay Lohan and throw away the key.

[Joe]

I personally do not know Samuel L Jackson but he appears on film to really dislike snakes on planes

[Jesse]

@ monica
Let me get this straight. You're making a judgment on a persons character based on the persona they created for their stand up comedy act and subsequent film roles? Are you kidding me?

News flash! Movies aren't real!

[Ryan]

Like it or not, but there's little anyone can do about someone taking your picture in a public place. A nuisance complaint can be made to the police, but if the photographers have legit media credentials, it makes it harder to take action. They are, in a sense, just doing their job. Society would come to a fast, screeching halt if we stopped people from doing their jobs because someone complains.

On the flip side, there are few things that *legally* justify one person assaulting another. Having your picture taken, as frustrating or annoying as it may be, is not one of them.

[simon j]

I personally do not know monica but she appears online to be rude and classless