An infamous red carpet prankster struck actor Brad Pitt in the face as he signed autographs at the Hollywood premiere of a film starring his partner Angelina Jolie on Wednesday, police said, according to The Associated Press.
Pitt, a Golden Globe-winning actor, was at the premiere of "Maleficent", at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California, when celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk leaped over a fence and hit him, said Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Gus Villanueva, the AP reported. "Maleficent" is Disney's modern reimagining of the "Sleeping Beauty" fairytale, and Jolie stars as its villain.
Sediuk has previously tried to kiss Will Smith in Moscow, ending in a slap from the actor, attempted to steal Adele's spotlight at the Grammys, and dove under America Ferrera's dress at Cannes, according to the AP.
Sediuk's antics have earned him probation for the Grammys stunt and have cost him his job with the Ukrainian television station that, up until his incident with Ferrera, gave the 25-year-old a platform to cross the line with celebrities, the AP reported.
Pitt was not seriously hurt and authorities quickly subdued Sediuk, who was arrested for misdemeanor battery and remained in police custody on Wednesday night, Villanueva said, according to the AP. Sediuk is now being held pending payment of $20,000 bail.
"The officers who were handling him said it looked like it was intentional, but at this point, it remains to be determined," said Sergeant Leonard Calderon for LAPD Hollywood, the AP reported. An emergency restraining order has been issued to Sediuk to stay away from Pitt.
Sediuk did not appear to be armed at the time of the attack on Pitt, and investigators have not yet determined a motive, said Villanueva, adding that he was likely to be arraigned on Thursday, according to the AP.
