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McCartney scuffle at Blaine site
LONDON, England -- Police are investigating reports that Paul McCartney scuffled with a photographer when the singer went to see magician David Blaine, who is in a plastic box dangling over the River Thames. The London Evening Standard said Friday one of its photographers had clashed with McCartney, 61, who had joined onlookers at the London site. Blaine is trying to stay in the clear box, near London's Tower Bridge, for 44 days without food. A London police spokeswoman told CNN an investigation into the incident is ongoing. The scuffle happened just before 1 a.m. (midnight GMT) local time Friday. "Officers near the David Blaine stunt show became aware of a dispute between a group of friends and a photographer and other members of the public. Following that, two counter allegations of common assault were made. "The group of friends allege that they were assaulted by a man during an argument. He alleges he was assaulted by them." Photographer Kevin Wheal is quoted by the Standard as saying that McCartney and his friends tried to stop him taking pictures. He added: "One of them said: 'There's no way you're going to take a picture mate.'" McCartney's spokesman Geoff Baker -- who initially said the musician had fired him for tipping off photographers about the trip to see Blaine -- issued a statement Friday saying reports of a "fracas" were exaggerated. Baker's statement described how he, McCartney and friends of the musician went to see Blaine after dining in central London's Soho district on Thursday evening. "One of the lads tipped off the press, who were watching a man in a sleeping bag in a box, that Paul was passing," the statement said. "Paul then continued to joke by telling his mate, who is his publicist, that he was fired. "Paul then got into a car and went home. Reports that this was a fracas or anything other than a group of friends on a night out are heavily exaggerated." It is the latest controversy surrounding Blaine's stunt, which has proved to be a security headache for police. Blaine-baiting has become a popular pastime among some onlookers and tabloid newspapers. The 30-year-old American has had to endure drums to keep him awake and the smell of barbecues to challenge his no food policy. Some people have pelted his box with eggs and on Tuesday a man was arrested after trying to sabotage his water supply. New Yorker Blaine is allowed water, diapers, a journal, some pens, lip balm, a pillow and a pad to lie on in the box, which is about two meters deep, two meters long and one meter wide. He began the stunt on September 5. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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