Christian Bale Breaks Silence: "It's A Deeply Personal Matter"

BARCELONA, Spain — Batman star Christian Bale asked for privacy Thursday in his first comments since allegations he assaulted his mother and sister at a London hotel, saying the incident was personal.

The Welsh-born actor brushed off questions about the alleged family dispute, saying he preferred to focus on the blockbuster movie "The Dark Knight," which had its premiere in Spain on Wednesday.

"It's a deeply personal matter," Bale told The Associated Press at a news conference at a luxury hotel in Barcelona. "I would ask you to respect my privacy in the matter."

The 34-year-old actor spent four hours talking to British police Tuesday following allegations he assaulted his mother and one of his three sisters in his suite at London's Dorchester Hotel two days earlier. He was released on bail, but not charged.

Bale has said through his lawyers that the assault allegations were false.

British media reported that Bale's mother and sister told police he assaulted them at the hotel 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.

The drama unfolded even as the movie broke records and was met with critical acclaim. It set a box-office record with $158.4 million during its opening weekend in the U.S. last week, and is expected to do well in Europe.

The film, which stars Bale as Batman and the late Heath Ledger as the superhero's nemesis The Joker, opened in Barcelona at a glittery premiere Wednesday night. Thousands of fans lined the red carpet for a peek at the stars.

Story continues below

advertisement

Bale paid tribute to Ledger, calling his depiction of The Joker one of the film's triumphs.

"It was an iconic portrayal of The Joker," Bale said, adding Ledger's character had embodied "an agent of chaos."

Bale said he tried to add an edge to his portrayal of Batman as well, inspired by the superhero's complex and mysterious character.

"The bat is not an angelic creature," he said, smiling.

The movie is expected to do well in Spain thanks in part to the publicity that Bale's reported arrest and Ledger's untimely death in January had spawned, press reports said.

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."

____

Associated Press reporter Paul Haven reported from Madrid.

Comments

[meleon]

Why does the heading mention extortion, but there's nothing about that in the article? Am I missing something, or is the title just misleading?

[andyg]

because bale people are putting out of the story.

[trollsbwild]

Little sister has some gaul to ask for $200k. Why does Christain have to support her?

[Menocu]

some DeGaul?

[YankeeCanuck]

He had a different kind of stones.

[RonNYC]

Everyone should leave Mr. Bale alone.
I am sure he is not like Russell Crowe. It was probably his relatives wanting money.

[Aslanspal]

Was this story way over blown in the beginning. Sounds like a normal dysfunctional family matter...n­o physical assault but voices raised perhaps to the point of shouting..­.who knows...ev­ery family is different in that regard.

Sorry this happened to him at the apex of trying to promote this movie.

[theistus]

Actual physical touching would have been a battery.

Assault is merely intentionally subjecting a person to fear of immediate physical harm, so actual touching isn't necessary. In the common parlance, most people think of assault as physical contact, however, it isn't necessary.

As it is, assault is hard to prove, and this thing is likely to go no further on a criminal basis. If it comes to a civil suit, well, I hope they make it a good one, because it will likely be the last contact they have with Bale.

[Tenley]

I agree -- I hope it was worth it to Sis and Mom because I can't imagine after this he'll want them in his life at all.

[littlepuffycloud]

Christian Bale is a brilliant actor, and his family is unusual and probably dysfunctional to some degree; just like the rest of us. His mother and sister should be ashamed of themselves. And I thought my mother was bad.

[dora rice]

you don't have any facts and just because he made the movie , he is your darling. Any time someone
gets violent against his own mother and sister , there is suspect. We have other ways to dissagree.

[RoloTomassi]

Shouting is equal to violence? So I can assume that you never have or never will shout at anyone?