After ten years without making waves, the actor Gladiator got angry with his fans when leaving his hotel in Paris, this Tuesday, May 26. A new incident that brings to mind a multitude of others.
Would Russell Crowe have trouble relaxing even on vacation? A few days after being seen, looking enthusiastic, in the stands of Roland-Garros alongside his partner Britney Theriot, the actor ofGladiator allowed himself to be overtaken by his nervous temperament. The incident took place this Monday, May 25 at the exit of his hotel in Paris, where many fans were waiting for him in the hope of obtaining a selfie or an autograph. Very enthusiastic about meeting their idol, everyone quickly became disillusioned.
As soon as he appeared, Russell Crowe, visibly in a bad mood, calmed their enthusiasm. Sunglasses screwed on his nose, face closed, he warned them in a dry tone, clearly annoyed. “Are you listening to me? Stay where you are. And damn, don’t come to me, I’ll come to you. Leave room for everyone. As soon as someone acts like an asshole, I’ll leave. Is it clear?”, he told them before heading towards his admirers without a single smile.
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Filmed then shared on social networks, this scene aroused the indignation of many Internet users, shocked by the aggressiveness of Russell Crowe. “I would no longer have wanted his autograph if he had spoken to me like that”, “Yes, he sets limits but he does it in a disrespectful way”, “Who does he think he is?” or even “He is so rude”, can we read in comments, liked several thousand times on TikTok. As the controversy grew, Russell Crowe defended himself in a message shared on May 26 on
“I understood the situation”
“Everyone had their autograph and their selfie, the passage to the hotel was kept clear for customers, and I still managed to arrive at the airport on time. One man, no security checks. I handled the situation. What is your problem?”, he said indignantly, in the caption of the video of his “rant” relayed by the American media TMZ with this scathing comment: “In case you need a reminder that fans aren’t always stars’ number one priority, turn to Russell Crowe. The guy was not in a good mood outside his hotel in Paris.” The actor ended his message by describing this publication as “raving”.
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Coming from him, this attitude is not really surprising. Russell Crowe has been known for years for his angry character, his impulsivity and even his aggression. In Hollywood, everyone knows: it’s better not to rub shoulders too much with the star of Gladiator, who can leave in a hurry.
From the start of his career, at the end of the 1990s, Peter Cousens, his partner in the musical Blood Brothersaccuses him of having tried to hit him in the dressing rooms, recalls himDaily Mail.Ten years later, in 1998, he provoked the inhabitants of the region of Alberta, Canada, where he was vacationing, by describing their region as “boring” in a disdainful tone. The tone rises, a fight breaks out. In 1999, Russell Crowe got into a fight with a man in a nightclub in Coffs Harbour, Australia, and ended up spitting on him and biting his face. According to the Daily Mail, the bouncers would have ended up throwing him out by dragging him on the ground.
Burst at the Bafta in 2002
Enough to calm Russell Crowe once and for all? Nope. Three years later, in 2002, he was once again talked about because of his outbursts of anger. However, he has just experienced an important moment in his career by winning the Bafta for best actor for his role inA Beautiful Mind. That evening, on stage, Russell Crowe reads a poem by Patrick Kavanagh which is particularly close to his heart. Backstage after his speech, he learns that Malcolm Gerrie, a BBC executive, cut this passage, too long for broadcast on TV. Russell Crowe sees red, very red. “You f***ing m****, I’m going to make sure you never work in Hollywood again,” he shouts as he passes the producer, before pinning him against the wall and punching him in the stomach.
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The next day, his “coup” made the front pages of the British newspapers. In embarrassment, Russell Crowe calls Malcolm Gerrie to apologize. “I was excessive because I was furious. But I behaved inappropriately,” he admits. A few months later, he nevertheless lost his temper, this time against businessman Eric Watson during a dinner at the Japanese restaurant Zuma, in London.
Arrest for assault
In June 2005, it was the last straw. After years of altercations and fights, Russell Crowe was arrested in a hotel in New York after throwing a phone in the face of Nestor Estrada, an employee of the establishment who was immediately hospitalized for a cut to the face. He was immediately charged with second-degree assault and “possession of a weapon by destination” (the telephone). Two days after his arrest, the star, who was released on bail, apologized during his appearance on the showLate show with David Letterman broadcast on CBS. “It may be the most shameful situation I’ve ever put myself in,†he said. In November, he pleaded guilty, which allowed him to avoid a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and the loss of his visa to enter the United States. He pays a fine of only $160 but his reputation is permanently tarnished. In the public eye, Russell Crowe is no longer the flamboyant “gladiator» but a violent man, incapable of controlling his impulses.
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After this episode, the actor remained discreet and continued his career without any real publicity. We think he has finally understood the lesson, that he has definitely calmed down. But naturalness comes back at a gallop in 2016, a year where he also finds himself in the spotlight with his new film, The Nice Guys, presented in Cannes. While he is enjoying this comeback, rapper Azealia Banks files a complaint against him. She accuses him of having insulted her, strangled her, spat on her then threw her out during a party organized in her hotel room. Russell Crowe refuses to apologize and explains, in a press release, having expelled Azealia from his suite because she had threatened to “slit the throats” of his guests with a piece of glass. Several witnesses to the event assure thatTMZÂ that the problems actually started when the rapper arrived. Before that, Russell Crowe was, according to them, “excessively calm”. The prosecutor finally gave up prosecuting the actor, due to lack of convincing evidence.
This latest controversy was the last. Over the past ten years, Russell Crowe has focused on his professional projects, while managing his separation and then his divorce from Danielle Spencer, recorded in 2018. We have mainly talked about him for his impressive physical metamorphosis, he who went from Maximus Decimus Meridius sculpted like a god to a bearded and plump sixty-year-old (which he fully assumes). His slip this week in Paris shows that beneath this new shell still hides the same volcanic temperament.
