Did Batman Assault His Mother and Sister?
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand
Update #2: People.com says that Bale has been released this afternoon, and will return to the station in September.
Update: Christian Bale was arrested earlier today on allegations of assault. No, Batman. Bad Batman. Not when you do $158 million on opening weekend, Batman!
We try not to dwell on the tabloid fodder here at Cinematical, but considering the nature of the story and, more importantly, who's involved, this is a tough news nugget to let slip by.
According to the Associated Press, Christian Bale has been accused of assault by his own mother and sister just before the European premiere of the record-breaking The Dark Knight. Bale allegedly assaulted them at a London hotel on Sunday, and while the allegations were formally made on Monday, Bale was not taken in for questioning until Tuesday -- which leads some to theorize that the premiere was to proceed without interruption.
Naturally, Bale's various representatives are refusing to return calls at the moment, and while I have little doubt that Bale won't be charged, I also can't help but think that two members of his family would even suggest as much were there not an incident of some sort. What do you guys think?
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. This would really be a Buzz-Kill. Hopefully it's nothing that will taint the image of the movie or Bale's name.
Posted at 10:25AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Adam
3. this could definitely hurt the box office among older audience. the younger generation i would say most of the time we dont care we will still watch the movie.
side note i tried to go see batman last night for a second time. it was 8pm everything was sold out until the 11:15pm show. they had movies starting every 30 mins and that does not include imax which was COMPLETELY sold out
Posted at 11:16AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Riley Freeman
4. Maybe he wanted to put a smile on their faces!
Who knows what goes on in people's lives, why should that influence movie goers? It's the art that counts...
Posted at 11:28AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Mr. R
5. "It's the art that counts..."
Amen, Mr. R, amen.
Posted at 12:20PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by William Goss
6. I really hope this will become a big deal, and have Bale's image tainted. Hopefully, it's all a misunderstanding. But, I hope people won't go seeing The Dark Knight because of this, because that would be a real shame for the people who chose not seeing the amazing Heath Ledger.
Posted at 11:33AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by streetsideog
7. I'm confused - you hope that Bale's image is tainted, but you hope it's a misunderstanding, but you hope people WON'T go see The Dark Knight because Ledger gave a great performance? Okay then...
Posted at 11:48AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by William Goss
10. Is that true about the next film? Oh, and I truly don't believe the bullshit story about him hurting his family or anyone else...
Posted at 11:15PM on Jul 28th 2008 by ryan
11. I'd read somewhere that Bale was estranged from his Mother and Sister.
Considering the take for "The Dark Knight" last weekend, to me it would seem that the timing of all of this is highly suspect.
Posted at 11:54AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by LOs
12. We're all human, and Christian Bale is no exception. Pressure, health and many, many other issues can lead us to do unexpected things.
If he did anything, I'm sure we will find out in due time - if they feel it necessary for us to know (no-one owes us the down-low), and if it's a misunderstanding, then we will also know.
I, myself will wait on giving my opinion and judgements. Cinematical has a good reputation for not joining in the media shark-pool and burning someone because of an incident we know nothing about, it would be a shame for that to change.
Posted at 12:09PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Rufus
13. Was the title of this story neccessary? It comes off as opportunistic and negligent to have a heading like that when 1) It is based on an assumption of guilt, 2) Assumption that "assault" means a physical altercation happened and 3) No 1st person account of what happened.
I find it funny that you say "We try not to dwell on the tabloid fodder here at Cinematical,", yet with that headline you throw yourself into that lot. No matter your supposed rationale that this is "a tough news nugget to let slip by", your choice of headline is tasteless. You could have used any number of headlines that stayed out of the "tabloid" arena, but instead, to draw attention, fell right into the very lot you supposedly are not a part of.
Your lack of knowledge about Bale and his family is apparent by your comment;"I also can't help but think that two members of his family would even suggest as much were there not an incident of some sort." Anyone familiar or in touch with the press in UK have long known the Bale family has had internal strife. Beyond that, "assult" can mean verbal and physical. You automatically assume physical without anything to back it up.
Posted at 12:59PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by LLcruize
14. "We try not to dwell on the tabloid fodder here at Cinematical, but considering the nature of the story and, more importantly, who's involved, this is a tough news nugget to let slip by."
Seriously, this tripe has NO place on film news blogs whatsoever. IF this led to Bale's future projects being affected, then yes there would be a place for it, but as it is he hasn't even been charged. It's just an allegation.
The sooner people start taking a harder line against this disgusting 'tabloid' trend in the 'proper' media, the better.
Posted at 1:05PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by RP
15. After he was released, his rep released this statement: "Christian Bale attended a London police station today, on a voluntary basis, in order to assist with an allegation that had been made against him to the police by his mother and sister. Mr. Bale, who denies the allegation, cooperated throughout, gave his account in full of the events in question, and has left the station without any charge being made against him by the police. At this time, there will be no further comment by Mr. Bale."
SO EVERYONE ITS FINE NOW...FORGET ABOUT THIS...LET HIM LIVE IN PEACE....
Posted at 1:13PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by rahul
16. Working as a server in a town with a population of around 500, and on a rainy Tuesday, I found myself watching Fox News (Not my choice, but my boss's) and was astounded when they cut to the "HAPPENING NOW" computer graphics and i saw Bale's name. I am an avid lover of all things Batman, and Bale and I was a true fan of the newest installment "The Dark Night"...I saw it twice so far.
But then i saw some more words...."Assault" "arrested" and god forbid "His mother and Sister."
Now to me the word Assault means just a shouting match that may have been a little brutal, but not bruising. I feel that if anyone was abused in anyway the word "Battery" would have shown up. But it didn't...
I hope that nothing tragic has happened, because i know i have moments and so do many others where you lose your cool, and you say and do things you don't mean. Im slightly abashed at the way his family said anything at all at this particular time, but i wasn't there i don't know. Let us just hope that everyone can take a chill pill, relax, and feel the love again.
Posted at 1:25PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Kristie
17. or maybe he just has a shitty relationship with his mom and sister and its no one else's business, especially us fanboys (fanPEOPLE, sorry don't wanna offend the mamma mia supporters)...
Posted at 1:48PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by dylsmack
18. I think he found out their business cards were better than his.
Posted at 2:19PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Jim Treacher
19. LOL. Your comment was hilarious and right on. I can't believe how serious people take this stuff and when I read your insight I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair. I have to return some videos now.
Posted at 11:32PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by SouthATXGrl
20. The incident is alleged to have occurred on Sunday night. It appears that it was not reported to the police until sometime on Monday. It won't happen, but everyone should back off this story until the investigation is over in a few weeks. If Mr. Bale isn't charged with anything, the Internet buzz over this story may damage his reputation for nothing.
Posted at 3:41PM on Jul 22nd 2008 by Douglass Abramson
1. Actors and movie stars, as individuals who can't live without a billion adoring fans, don't generally come from healthy or well adjusted families.
Anything is possible. Maybe he's been spending a little too much time with Russell Crowe
Posted at 10:22AM on Jul 22nd 2008 by The Pepto Pimp