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

[DocManhattan]

Why does this article not specify that the allegation is of "verbal assault", as I've seen reported elsewhere? The difference between yelling abuse at someone and actually hitting them is pretty crucial, you would think ...

[marred]

because I've noticed lately that the huff post like to leave out certain words to entice you into reading the articles. Like that headline about that guy working with Julia roberts and it saying "that is no fun for anyone" then you actually read the article and you discover it was no fun for anyone on that film including Julia Roberts. But the headline makes out like they all had a problem working for her.

[marymansour]

I've noticed that too. Misleading headlines.

[wayoutleft]

so the rumor that his mother was holding hostages in a clown mask is unsubstantiated...

[zakwouldhave]

Check out the picture of Christian on CNN.com. Looks pretty rough...maybe being Patrick Bateman was too much.
BTW...I though 3:10 to Yuma was pretty weak overall but he was brilliant as Bateman/Batman.

[blastocyst]

Christian's Sister, oh, the time has come...
...You're motoring
What's your price for flight?

[hip dibler]

that makes me laugh.

[blastocyst]

finally! ;-)

[blastocyst]

'Twas a Dark and Stormy Knight.

[Wildcatdiva]

I bet if they did want money they won't be getting anything now.

[blastocyst]

Sticks n' stones may break my bones...

[Forester]

Christian Bale is no great shakes as an actor. His 3:10 to Yuma would not have worked without the great writing and Crowe's work. I think there were some problems with Dark Knight as a movie, and Bale's work was wooden at best. He was owned by Ledger, and knew it. His biggest problem from my perspective is his apparent disdain for showbiz, while being neck deep in it. He has zero sense of humor - which is not a strategy for success in the biz. These people always seem to forget that they are just entertainers, and are fair game for the masses that they make their livings off of.

[trollsbwild]

I disagree as to Bale's talent. American Psycho is an all time classic.
I'll wait to get more details before passing any judgement on this incident. There are many dysfuntional families in this world. Not all mothers and sisters are normal. Trust me.

[brakmaster]

I disagree. I thought he was excellent in The Machinist. I'm not sure how many other actors would go through the physical changes required for that role. He and Nolan made a darn fine film called The Prestige. I'd consider him to be one of the better actors working today.

Everybody gets owned by The Joker. Batman isn't really the best "actor" role around...

[Forester]

To be fair I have not seen all his work - I think its his face and manner I don't like. His interview on Terry Gross came off as extremely smug and self important - but I guess you got to have some attitude to be an entertainer.

[aristippe]

His all time strangest choice of roles, "Harsh Times." Can you imagine an English man playing a south central Latino gangster, Bale pulls it off. Worth a look.

[aristippe]

Who Cares!

[useyourbrain]

His mom probably had it comming.

[proudloudlib]

Oh, just go on back to the politics page!

[Boadicea]

Verbal abuse? All this because he raised his voice at his mother and sister?

My guess - these people drink, and they want a piece of the Dark Knight pie.

My advice - Bale should stay away from his family.

[trollsbwild]

BINGO!

[Destin]

My advice, people shouldn't name themselves after some historical figure, then pass judgement where no capability existed. ;)

[masha2008]

so now it's verbal abuse. why would a mother and sister go to police for alleged verbal abuse. couldnt they take care of this issue within the family? they really wanted something from him that they didnt get and took revenge. let's see how this unfolds and how bale defends himself; if he will be detailed or be gracious and give his mother and sister a pass.

if it's about money, then they dont deserve anything from bale. they can only ask. somebody said it's about david bale's (father) will.

[Chicago48]

Masha and I are on the same page. Yep, it was probably about money. And so he's an a**hole egotistic ...aren't most actors? (exc George Clooney and Brad Pitt)

[sisterdebmac]

Maybe these people are the same kind of vultures Heath's father seems to be. Very sad, these stage parents.

[SmootyBooty]

In England, you have to be arrested to be questioned, but that doesn't automatically mean you will be charged. He has not been and he won't be.

[dagdavid]

Why do you all automatically assume that "batman" cannot be to blame, that it must be his mother and sister looking to extort money? He is a human, not a superhero, and as such more than capable of assaulting his family.

[donorman]

Do you know his family? You're already assuming he DID do it.

Did Batman do it?
Stay tuned... same Bat Time, same Bat Gossip Rag.

[blastocyst]

Bat Guano!

[SmootyBooty]

Because it was verbal and not physical assault...

[Destin]

Do you happen to know what was said? Verbal assaults can carry such things as hate speak, terroristic threats, threats to life and property, need I go on?

And depending on the age of his mother, could face cruelty charges. I know that for a fact as we had a nephew arrested who was foul mouthing our mom. He was charged with verbal assault, terroristic threats, cruelty to a person over 65, among other things.

p.s. This isn't a slam against Mr. Bale, or an accusation, I'm just giving an example of a real life experience that I was involved with. We'll have to see how things play out to know about Mr. Bale's situation.

[sisterdebmac]

Also because one of the sisters who reported him is now saying it's a "family matter". Then why bring the police into it to begin with? Something really hinkey about the whole thing.

[Politiking]

In England, someone can lodge a complaint of assault even if there is no physical contact. Heated Verbal argument can be filed as Assault 5; aggravated verbal assault is 4. What a country! In the U.S., someone has to physically touch you for it to be assault. It is difficult when your Mum is the CatWoman and your Sis is the BatGirl. It is destiny for your to fight these freaks when you are BatMan!

[jcwtts1]

in the US as well, assault is verbal, battery is physical. Hence an Assault and Battery charge...

J

ps - am I spelling battery right?

[SmootyBooty]

yep

[DennyCrane]

Interesting timing. Maybe mom and sis figured they could extort Bale now that his movie is tops at the box office.