One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson was arrested at LAX this past Friday night (March 3) following an incident with paparazzi at the airport.
TMZ reports that Tomlinson had just arrived at the airport with his girlfriend Eleanor Calder in tow. The two were returning from a trip to Las Vegas when they were swamped by paparazzi at the baggage claim. Tomlinson reportedly assaulted one of the photographers, pulling him by his legs so that the man hit his head on the ground. A female onlooker also reportedly began recording Calder as she attempted to leave the premises, and the two women engaged in a physical altercation.
Airport security then placed Tomlinson under citizen arrest until the LAPD arrived and took the singer into custody, where he was charged with simple battery.
Tomlinson’s lawyer Martin Singer released a statement to Billboard that read, “The paparazzi provoked and caused the altercation that occurred with Louis at the airport this morning. This is not the first or last time that a paparazzi has created an altercation with a celebrity. While the altercation was going on with the paparazzi, three other individuals were attacking his girlfriend during this incident and he came to her defense.”
The singer was allegedly released without having to post bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 29. It has not been reported whether or not his girlfriend was also arrested, although the onlooker and the photographer both made citizens' arrests.
Despite these legal woes, Tomlinson currently has a solo hit with Steve Aoki called "Just Hold On," which is sitting at No. 36 on the Pop Songs airplay chart.
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