Christian Bale Arrested After Claims Of Assault By His Own Mother

BARCELONA, Spain — Christian Bale swept into Barcelona on Wednesday night to attend a glittering Spanish premiere of "The Dark Knight," appearing calm as he greeted fans a day after reports surfaced that his mother and sister had accused him of assault.

A 15-car motorcade delivered Bale and his co-stars to the red carpet, where the 34-year-old actor greeted hundreds of fans outside the city's Coliseum Theater. Bale spent half an hour signing autographs, looking relaxed in a tailored dark blue suit and asking each autograph seeker's name.

About 25 camera crews waited outside the theater. Bale did not speak to reporters and made no comment about the allegations that he assaulted his mother and one of his three sisters at a London hotel on Sunday.

The actor's wife, Sibi, smiling broadly, and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal stood by Bale as he attended to fans. Then the Welsh-born actor, who plays millionaire recluse Bruce Wayne and his bat winged alter-ego, entered the theater to watch the film.

"We expected some excitement but have truly been taken aback by all the media attention," Warner Bros. representative Gernot Dudda said.

Bale said through his lawyers the assault allegations were false Tuesday, hours after he was arrested, questioned by London police and released on bail. He spent four hours talking with authorities but was not charged.

British media reported that Bale's mother and sister told police he assaulted them at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Sunday night, a day before attending the European premiere of "The Dark Knight." The Sun newspaper said the complaint was filed by sister Sharon Bale and mother Jenny Bale.

Wednesday night outside the Coliseum's elegant baroque facade, built in 1923 and inspired by the Opera in Paris, bat lights flickered as fans dressed as The Joker waited to go in. Fellow actor Aaron Eckhart and director Christopher Nolan also spent time greeting fans and signing autographs.

Bale first made a splash as the child star of Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" in 1987. His screen credits also include "American Psycho," "The Machinist" and "Batman Begins."

The film set a box-office record with $158.4 during its opening weekend in the U.S. last week.

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Associated Press correspondent Paul Haven in Madrid contributed to this story.

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Warner Bros. is a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Comments

[marymansour]

I've never seen such a brouhaha about a family altercation. Anyone that comes from a turbulent and sometimes troubled family - as most of us do - can understand this. Too bad the mom and sis dragged the media into the fray.

[GayGrandpa]

My dad taught me to believe half you see and nothing you read...that is more true than ever!

[Agentlady007]

Well, that may explain a lot about you. On the other hand, it may not.

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

When he assaulted his mom, was it a "BAM! or a "POW!"?

[rubberneck]

I can understand a loan. My family has a few poor luck cases....but 200k? That's crazy.

[Indubio]

Everything is relative...for you and I to lend 200K would be crazy. But for a guy who just made a zillion dollars with t he prospect of many more opportunities in the future to make just as much I don't think that figure is out of line at all. What I find rather strange is that a mother and or sister would have to "borrow" money from a son/brother with a net worth of a few hundred million bucks and who, if he doesn't work another day in his life, has enough money to live rather well for the rest of his life and leave his children a large legacy. Experience has taught me that one never ever lends family or friends money. One either gives the money to them with the suggestion they return it if and when they can afford to do so or one declines to make a donation. Personally, if I felt disinclined to give family or friends money I could easily afford to give, it would only be due to the fact that I didn't care about them. Maybe Bale feels this way about his family? If so, he wouldn't be alone since many people are ostracized from parents and siblings.

[dora rice]

his opportunities have just diminished. Maybe Americans forgive when you get violent toward your mother, but europeans don't.

[mshazen]

He does not have a zillion dollars, and 200K is a lot of money period. Just because he makes a lot does not mean his sister should ask for that kind of money. Perhaps she should get a job herself. Maybe this is not the first time he has bailed her out .

[Tenley]

By cornering him for money and taking it to the press, the mother and sister's opportunism and manipulation have guaranteed icy relations with him (at best) forevermore. Hope it was worth it.

[GhostNyc]

THIS MUST BE CONTINUALLY SAID.

In the U.K there are varying degrees of assualt which include VERBAL (aka NON-PHYSICAL) assault. The American MSM is having a field day with this story and practically NONE of them have mentioned that this was verbal assualt.

Furthermore the story is that his mother was insulting his wife and Christian was reacting in her defense. And now it is also being said that the mother, daughter pair were hitting Bale up for money.

We really have no details as to their relationship (or lack thereof) to be passing judgement on anyone involved is premature to say the least. One thing that is known for sure is that when Bale's parents divorced his mom forced Christian to choose between them. He decided to go with his father.

The rest is up to the gossip columns to fill in the blanks.

[Indubio]

Of course your comment is spot on. But lots of folks enjoy jumping t o conclusions letting their emotions get the better of them. Frankly, what happens between Bale and his family is none of anyone's business.

[johnnygoodwud]

dysfunction junction,,,,,,,,,,,,happens in most homes all the time. i have gone round and round with my mother, but would never ever lay a hand on her. imagine winning the lottery and suddenly all your friends/family are hitting you up for $$$$.

[duckcrackers]

Dude looks familiar. Wasn't he in a movie recently?

[psgoodguy]

i can't tell you how many times i've wanted to (and didn't) smack my mom a good one.

[aristippe]

that's what dads are for

[GetoffMylawn]

Now you're gonna get it!

[johnnygoodwud]

time to head to the bat cave and chill awhile

[duckcrackers]

He was just upset because he found out Sarah Jessica Parker had her mole removed. He's a serious mole enthusiast.

[OhPlease2007]

Oh, ... but the pettiness of family, ... all because a member from within had great courage & bravery to go out, into the real world, ... to pursue their dearest dreams; and in doing so, actually made it happen, ... without the support of the 'entire' family. I know what it's like.

Christian Bale is a good man, and the jealous nitwits around him, that are 'reportedly' giving him grief, ... need to , ... seriously, ... get a life.

To all the parents out there, ... word to the wise, ... support your children's dreams with ALL your heart, ... because, ... if you won't, ... then you will probably live long enough to regret it. -Just a thought.

[frankobeans]

his relatives probably just begging for more money while they spend it all on the sauce

[marinade]

Take 5.

Get AWAY from the fam-damn-ly. Buy a ticket. Get yourself to Montana.

[UtahLiberal435]

As others have noted, "assault" can just be verbal yelling. "Assault and battery" implies physical contact.

[Dollabrand]

Who cares?

[duckcrackers]

Who cares? Why apparently my fiance who came home and drank a pint of gin upon finding out the news. She's been drinking all day getting ready for the Tanqueray 10 Mile K fun run.