Russell Brand faces battery charge after LAX altercation

British comedian Russell Brand faced battery charges after being arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after an altercation with a photographer.

The incident occurred about 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 photographer who was following him through the airport.

Brand, who has appeared in such films as "Get Him to the Greek"  was being taken to the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division station. He faces $20,000 bail, according to the LAPD.

The name of the photographer involved in the incident was not released.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: British actor Russell Brand. Credit: Getty Images

Comments

[jig]

How can this be allowed?
I saw the video and why are parasite stalkers allowed to harass paying airline customers at an airport who are just trying to get on an airplane ok. Where are the police? Why is this ok when the airport is supposed to be all high security.

People without tickets, not dropping someone off or picking them up should not be allowed to loiter and lurk to scare people at the airport. This is so ignorant and yet another reason why L.A. is the bottom of the barrel of cities.

[Evad the Slayer]

Why on earth can't the photographers leave people alone. I am pretty sure he was justified in hitting the twerp. We need laws that protect celebrities from these preying animals.

[observer]

Nice hair Russell!

[wearwhatiwannawear]

he really looks bad

[Ashley]

beyond ridiculous that russell was arrested for pushing someone who was taking photos of him relentlessly and without his consent in what is essentially a place of business. i have seen kids get pushed harder on the playground, better put the LAPD on that case next.

[All Hallows Eve]

He looks trashed in that photo, wasted and greasy.
Take a shower Russell, and lose the eye makeup.
You're not Alice Cooper.

[JTM]

Airline travel and dealing with people at airports is bad enough as it is...if you harass and stalk someone for a photo during this time, you deserve to get hit in the face. Russell is definitely eccentric but I can't say I wouldn't do the same if someone was aggravating me at the airport.

[Rayme]

I'm so sick and tired of these people who achieve fame (I"m sure that's all they ever dreamed about) and then don't like being "Harrased". Then its made worse by people like some of these that stick up for them saying why can't they be left alone. We put celebrities on too high a pedestal and if they don't want attention then go be joe public and fade in with the rest of us. I never made it big but got some local fame and never mistreated the people who supported me in what I was doing or fans as some would call them. First off this particular guy is an idiot and no matter how "Harrased" he was, he had no right putting hands on another person. I thought Katy perry had more taste but evidently not. Go back to britan if you don't like your picture taken.

[JR]

jig makes a good point. Also, whatever happened to our constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy? I have never been to LAX and I hope I never have to go seeing how this type of behavior is tolerated by local LEO, City and County officials. What a bunch of jerks to allow people to be harassed just because their chosen profession happens to either put them on a stage or in front of a camera.

[Grandpaw]

The terminal should be off limits to the scum paparazzi.