Clooney in bar brawl

2005-11-07 10:05

London - American actor George Clooney got into a brawl with a security guard at a bar in London's West End, a British newspaper reported on Friday.

The Evening Standard said Clooney, 44, had gotten into a pushing fight with the guard at Meza in the early hours of Friday morning, after using the bar's rear entrance in an effort to avoid paparazzi photographers.

It was unclear from the newspaper story why the actor had become involved in the alleged scuffle at the bar, where a reception was being held to mark a screening of Clooney's latest film Good Night and Good Luck.

He left shortly afterward with his ex-girlfriend, British TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, in a car that had pulled up, the Evening Standard said.

Redbus, the company distributing Good Night and Good Luck in Britain, issued a statement following the newspaper report saying, "This is a storm in a teacup. George had travelled a long way for the premiere, and everyone was thrilled to see him and had a good time." It did not confirm or deny the incident.

A Meza spokesperson said none of the staff was involved in any incident with Clooney, but that Clooney's British management had hired security guards separately for the reception.

Good Night and Good Luck chronicles the confrontation between US newscaster Edward Murrow and Senator Joe McCarthy during the 1950s. Clooney directed, co-wrote and starred in the film.

The Hollywood actor and former star of TV series ER made his debut as a director in 2002 with Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

- SAPA