Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Brad Pitt on being ‘attacked’ by Vitalii Sediuk on the red carpet: ‘That nutter was trying to bury his face in my crotch’

The actor was the unfortunate victim of the Ukrainian prankster, who was sentenced to three years probation for the incident

Jenn Selby
Tuesday 03 June 2014 06:35 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Brad Pitt has spoken out about that awkward moment he was punched in the designer shades on the red carpet of the Maleficent premiere in Los Angeles last week.

The actor was the unfortunate victim of Ukrainian prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who was seen crawling underneath America Ferrera’s dress in Cannes just weeks beforehand.

Giving his version of the events which unfolded, he told People: “I was at the end of the line signing autographs, when out the corner of my eye I saw someone stage-diving over the barrier at me.

"I took a step back; this guy had latched onto my lapels. I looked down and the nutter was trying to bury his face in my crotch, so I cracked him twice in the back of the head — not too hard — but enough to get his attention, because he did let go. I think he was then just grabbing for a hand hold because the guys were on him, and he reached up and caught my glasses."

Police officers in attendance wrestled Sediuk to the floor and led him away in cuffs. He later pleaded ‘no contest’ to battery and unlawful activity at a sporting or entertainment event, and was sentenced to three years’ probation, a year of psychological counselling and 20 days of community service.

Furthermore, Pitt also obtained a restraining order against Sediuk to prevent any such incidents occurring to him or his partner Angelina Jolie in the future.

Vitalii Sediuk appears at Los Angeles Superior Court House
Vitalii Sediuk appears at Los Angeles Superior Court House

"I don't mind an exhibitionist," he continued, "but if this guy keeps it up he's going to spoil it for the fans who have waited up all night for an autograph or a selfie, because it will."

Pitt’s crotch isn’t the first that Sediuk has attempted to face-fondle.

In January at the SAG Awards, he hugged Bradley Cooper round the waist, with his face pushed into the actor’s crotch. He tried a similar move on Leonardo DiCaprio at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February.

Vitalii Sediuk grabs Bradley Cooper's waist at the SAG Awards in January 2014
Vitalii Sediuk grabs Bradley Cooper's waist at the SAG Awards in January 2014

However, the 25-year-old TV personality, whose publicist has left him over the incident, still insists he’s a "normal guy".

"I'm not crazy... I'm doing this for fun," he told the Alternative Press.

"I never hit, I never punched, I never slapped Brad Pitt in the face," he said. "This is absolutely false information."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in