Dark Twist: Christian Bale Reportedly Accused of Assault
Christian Bale by Ferdaus Shamim/ WireImage.com
The day after
The Dark Knight set
box-office records here in the U.S., franchise front man
Christian Bale was arrested in London, where his mother and sister accused him of assault.
The Welsh actor, who denies the allegations, turned himself in to a police station, where he was questioned for several hours and released without being charged, Bale's London-based law firm, Schillings, said
in a statement on Tuesday.
Though Scotland Yard has not confirmed the identity of the accused,
British media reported the actor's mother and sister filed a complaint, saying that Bale assaulted them at a London hotel on Sunday - the day before
Dark Knight's European premiere. By some accounts, the questioning of Bale was held off until Tuesday, so as to not taint the opening-night event.
"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," the statement read. "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."
According to the U.K.
Telegraph, Christian's sister Sharon, 41, would not give details about the case. "There was an incident but the police are dealing with it," she said. "It is an extremely sensitive situation. There is nothing more I can say." Christian's mother, Jenny Bale, 61, meanwhile, is reported to have said, "Yes I was there and yes there was a family situation but the police are handling it."
As a family, the Bales moved several times during Christian's childhood, from Portugal to Oxfordshire and finally, Bournemouth. Bale's mother was a circus performer and currently lives near Bournemouth.
Christian Bale's father, David, grew up in South Africa but left to join the British Royal Air Force. He and Jenny separated in 1991, when Christian was 17, and father and son moved to Los Angeles four years after the split. David died from a brain tumor in 2003, with his Christian at his side. -
Matt Mitovich
Related:
"
Was Blockbuster Pressure Too Much for Christian Bale?
