Home : Celebrity Justice, Paparazzi Photo, Gerard Butler : Witnesses Say Gerard Was Provoked

Witnesses Say Gerard Was Provoked

Posted Oct 8th 2008 2:45PM by TMZ Staff

So we just told you the LAPD is investigating whether Gerard Butler kicked a paparazzi's ass yesterday. Well, there's more to this story.

Sources tell us witnesses have now come forward with a very different account. They are saying the papper was tailing Gerard for hours. And, they say, the photog was driving "recklessly" as he "chased" Butler's limo, almost hitting several pedestrians. The photog says he endangered no one.

The witnesses say after Gerard allegedly got out of the limo and struck the photog in the face, the photog continued following Butler for more than an hour before going to the hospital. But the agency the photog works for says Gerard struck the dude at 1:45 AM and he was at the cop shop at 2:10 AM.

And, we're told, the photog spoke with a civil lawyer before contacting cops.

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31. I totally agree with Gerard Butler did but why is it okay for him but not okay for Kanye?

Posted at 4:08PM on Oct 8th 2008 by GET REAL

32. Paps are like groupies- except that they're guys.

Posted at 4:04PM on Oct 8th 2008 by CoolGirl2008

33. is he legally in the United States anyways?!

Posted at 4:10PM on Oct 8th 2008 by sd

34. if the photog was driving recklessly, why didn't gerard call the cops

it's just another whiny celeb who thinks he's above the law

Posted at 4:14PM on Oct 8th 2008 by baloney

35. Deport his sorry ass if he cannot follow US laws on aggravated assault. Russell Crowe couldn't either.

Posted at 4:14PM on Oct 8th 2008 by T-in-SD

36. I agree. He DOES look like he peed his pants.

Posted at 4:18PM on Oct 8th 2008 by Emily

37. If it were any "normal" citizen, then the way the paps follow them around would be considered stalking and harrassment. There'd be retraining orders and police reports. But for some reason the paps are allowed to get away with breaking the laws, endangering citizens with their reckless driving and obstructing the ability to leave an establishment. They surround celebs to the point where they can't even walk down a street, leave a restaurant, or drive away from the mob scene. Some celebs fear for the safety of their children and that's why they are carried everywhere. Put the tyke down and they risk getting trampled or driven over.
Laws should be passed against them..... such as they cannot get closer than 500ft. and cannot obstruct a persons ability to walk or drive normally. It's not gonna happen until someone dies from a really stupid accident.

Posted at 4:21PM on Oct 8th 2008 by Katt

38. The pap got what he deserved. It would have been nice if Gerard could have found a better way to resolve it but the police don't always respond quickly enough and this guy was endangering others. The pap is the one who should be charged not Gerard.

Go Sox

Posted at 4:24PM on Oct 8th 2008 by Baseball Junkie

39. Whoa. If you take this out of the context of this "celebrity Vs pap" situation, I think anyone would have reacted that way if someone was following them wrecklessly. I mean....I get irritated when people cut me off in traffic. It isn't uncommon to see a guy punch another dude if he thinks he was hitting on his girlfriend. So it definitely doesn't seem unreasonable to kick someone's ass who has been tailing you for hours and threatening people's lives.

Posted at 4:26PM on Oct 8th 2008 by MP

40. "that savage",

T-in-SD sounds like a frustrated wussie...

Posted at 4:30PM on Oct 8th 2008 by jealous

41. Grow up all of you. Especially Gerard. Cops are there to protect and serve. Gerards big head is even bigger than I thought if he resorts to beating up people. That savage
==============================
If the police were actually doing something about the paps then I could see calling on them but they aren't. Before you judge Gerry maybe you better put yourself in his shoes, T.

Posted at 4:30PM on Oct 8th 2008 by getthepaps

42. If celebs are coming out of a club or going into one fine, have at it. If there are out and about shopping or at the park, fine. But it should be illegal to hunt them down or chase them hours. The paps are the lowest form of life. You are not contributing anything to society. You are a virus.

Posted at 4:37PM on Oct 8th 2008 by Buster

43. If you don't want to support paps I suggest you stop reading TMZ and visiting this site. The paps are part of TMZ's lifeline.

Posted at 4:39PM on Oct 8th 2008 by T-in-SD

44. I love this "as we are told this pu$$y little fa66oty b!tch-boy spoke with a civil lawyer before calling the cops".

So this little fairy pulled his finger out of his ass long enough to dial 1-800 the eagle and find out of he could get money instead of being a man.

How many of you, after getting your lip split open by some guy punching you, are going to call a friggin ambulence chaser?

Fairy pap, way to sack up and be a man.

Posted at 4:49PM on Oct 8th 2008 by Toby Christensen

45. "T-in-SD sounds like a frustrated wussie..."

Yea, frustrated when stars act like savages. That talentless hack, hope they throw the book at him and deport his sorry ass for breaking the law.

What are you jealous of Jealous? Not an admirable trait. Ick.

Posted at 4:49PM on Oct 8th 2008 by T-in-SD

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