Posted on 04/16/2009 11:01:16 AM PDT by AreaMan
By Jane Hamilton
HOLLYWOOD star Patrick Stewart launched a foul-mouthed tirade at a fan who took a picture of him onstage.
He called the man an "a***hole" as he queued to get the actor's autograph following a stage performance.
The 68-year-old X-Men star is touring with acting legend Sir Ian McKellan in Samuel Becket's classic play Waiting For Godot.
As the fan waited outside the King's Theatre in Edinburgh afterwards, Stewart pointed his fingers and shouted: "Can you sleep at night?" His co-star Sir Ian looked shocked by the outburst which Stewart continued as he signed other autographs.
A witness said: "There were at least 40 people waiting for autographs and this guy had a big camera and was waiting with a woman at the front of the queue.
Rude
"One of the backstage people came out and said the actors wouldn't pose for pictures or sign anything other than show material in a rather pompous tone." Actor Ronald Pickup was first out followed by Stewart and then McKellan.
The witness added: "The woman the guy was with was getting her programme signed.
"Stewart suddenly looked up and said, 'Are you the a***hole who was sitting at the front tonight? You know, what I really want to know is how you can sleep at night? I really hope you're pleased with yourself'.
"The woman was horrified and clearly upset and walked off but the guy brassed it out.
"Someone said he tried to take a sneaky picture of McKellan and Stewart taking their encore at the end of the show and was caught by one of the stewards."
Another witness said: "I think they thought he was paparazzi or something because he had such a big camera but he didn't do anybody harm."
A spokeswoman for the theatre said: "It is generally regarded as rude and inconsiderate to take photographs during a live performance of this kind.
"The theatre displays signs throughout the building that photography and filming on any recording device is strictly prohibited.
"We have received a number of complaints from performers and audience. It is very disappointing that these people are willing to risk ruining the evening for everyone else."
Stewart is best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek:TNG and Professor Xavier in the X-Men films.
How dare someone interrupt the sacred art of pretending to be someone else.
Yeah, screw decorum. What we want, when we want it, that’s what I say.
I guess the fan wasn’t waiting for Godot.
Actually it was pretty rude and crass to interrupt the play. Mr. Stewart’s reaction was just as classless.
I like it. We bitch and moan about the death of politeness in society, we forget that one of the ways politeness used to be enforced was with the pointed finger and public shaming (and maybe even the occasional beat down). If the guy was taking pictures (probably against the rules of the establishment in the first place) in such a way that it was noticeable on stage he is an a$$#0le and a bit of public dressing down might teach him a lesson.
Still, it would have been funny if Stewart had yelled out Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaan. :)
The dude was probably establishing a COA for his Ebay auction of the programme.
He took the picture at the end during the encore. I guess one really needs to concentrate awfully hard when smiling and taking a bow while people are applauding.
I think he’s right. If he thought the guy was paparazzi. If he didn’t, still it’s low class or no class to be taking flash shots of a stage performance and really disruptive for the paying audience as well.
Exactly. These guys who go from stage door to stage door getting signed photos to sell on ebay take away from the real fans.
Who is?
But whenever I hear of a situation like this I am reminded of a scene from War Games when one of the scientists (played by Dabney Coleman) insults the General in charge of NORAD (played by Barry Corbin) by calling him a "Pig eyed sack of sh*t."
The General responds, "Oh, I was hoping for something a little better than that from you, sir. A man of your education."
I was expecting something classier from Professor Xavier, but I guess a**hole will have to do.
Sounds like Ms. Hamilton has issues with Mr. Stewart.
I’m with Picard on this one.
Where’s Worf when he’s needed?
The encore is NOT performance. It is accepting accolades FOR a performance.
The shutterbug was rude, and completely in the wrong.
Good for Patrick Stewart.
People paid to see a play, not to be blinded by flash or interrupted by rustling.
Same with people who bring cell phones, pagers, iPods, etc. You can't possibly be that important if you need to bring any of those things with you to remind you have how important you are.
The idea that "I want to do something selfish, and no one else is as important as I am" needs to be stomped out. And if it takes some bald British guy to do it, good on Jean Luc.
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