Bartender Not Expected to Press Charges Against Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba Gooding Jr.
A bartender who claimed that Cuba Gooding Jr. pushed her doesn't plan to file criminal charges against him, The Associated Press reports.
Police issued an arrest warrant for the Oscar winner, 44, on a misdemeanor charge of municipal battery after the bartender alleged that Gooding pushed her. The bartender told the police that Gooding became upset after patrons tried to pose with him for photos at the Old Absinthe House at about 3 a.m. When the bartender asked Gooding to calm down, he pushed her and pushed her again when she told him he should leave.
Warrant issued for Cuba Gooding Jr.'s arrest
Gooding met with police the following day and was issued a court summons. The warrant was subsequently dropped. He is due to be arraigned on Friday.
"It is our understanding the employee involved in the alleged altercation has chosen to drop all charges against Mr. Cuba Gooding Jr.," Old Absinthe House spokeswoman Carolyn Pierce told the AP. "While we continue to investigate this matter internally, we are hopeful that this will put an end to the matter."
Ryan Berni, a spokesman for New Orleans police, said: "The witness indeed has indicated that she is likely to drop the charges. If she does, and after prosecutors review the evidence, a determination will be made as to whether to dismiss the charges."
In a separate statement, Gooding's publicist said the actor and New Orleans authorities "are moving swiftly to resolve this misunderstanding."
Gooding is currently in New Orleans filming the Lee Daniels historical biopic The Butler, also starring Liam Neeson and Nicole Kidman.