Share

Cuba Gooding Jr surrenders to police

Chicago - Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr turned himself in to police in New Orleans on Wednesday to face battery charges after he allegedly pushed a female bartender during a dispute, police said.

"He met with police officials this morning," police spokesperson Hillal Williams told AFP.

"He was issued a summons for municipal battery. It now goes into the court system."

Gooding's publicist said he is "moving swiftly to resolve this misunderstanding."

The bartender told police that Gooding arrived at the Bourbon Street bar with a group of people at approximately 03:00 on Tuesday.

'Aggravated'

Customers soon recognised the Jerry Maguire star and started asking him to pose for pictures with them.

"The bartender said Gooding soon became very aggravated with them," police said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The bartender said she approached Gooding and asked him to calm down, at which point he "allegedly pushed her away with an open hand."

A co-worker called police and the bartender told Gooding that he needed to leave.

"Gooding then allegedly pushed her again, and left the bar," police said.

Career

Gooding won an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role as an arrogant football player - whose line "Show me the money!" became a catchphrase - in the 1996 hit Jerry Maguire which starred Tom Cruise.

He has also played supporting roles in hits like Pearl Harbor, A Few Good Men, and As Good As It Gets  and had a lead role in the Spike Lee film Boyz n the Hood.

In recent years his films have not had a great deal of commercial success and most have gone straight to DVD without a wide release in cinemas.

A court date had not yet been posted on the county's online docket and a court representative did not immediately return a request for comment.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE