[Gossip] Bartender Not Pressing Charges Against Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 08.02.2012
Stemming from the altercation in New Orleans earlier this week...
Fox News.com reports that a bartender who made a claim that Cuba Gooding Jr. pushed her does not plan on pursuing criminal charges against the Academy Award-winning actor according to the managers at a New Orleans restaurant who made the statement last Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, an arrest warrant was issued by police on a misdemeanor charge of municipal battery for the 44-year-old actor, Gooding. According to police, the bartender from the Old Absinthe House told them that Gooding was upset when patrons started asking the actor to pose for photos with them at around 3 a.m. in the morning. Invistigators were told by the bartender that Gooding pushed the bartender after she asked Gooding to calm down and she was pushed again when she apparently told Gooding to leave and police had been called.
Gooding left the restaurant before the authorities arrived. He later met with New Orleans police on Wednesday morning and was issued a court summons. A statement to the Associated Press from the restaurant's spokeswoman, Carolyn Pierce, stated, "It is our understanding the employee involved in the alleged altercation has chosen to drop all charges against Mr. Cuba Gooding Jr. While we continue to investigate this matter internally, we are hopeful that this will put an end to the matter."
A city spokesman, Ryan Berni, added, "The witness indeed has indicated that she is likely to drop the charges. If she does, and after prosecutors review the evidence, a determination will be made as to whether to dismiss the charges."
Gooding's arraignment is currently set for Friday according to Berni. Goodin's publicist, Nancy Kane, informed the AP that "Mr. Gooding, his representative and the New Orleans authorities ... are moving swiftly to resolve this misunderstanding."
The arrest warrent on Gooding was lifted after he was issued his court summons says New Orleans police spokeswoman Remi Braden.
Once the Gooding's summons is processed, the bartender can officially drop the charges according to a New Orleans city court employee.
Gooding won an Academy Award in 1997 for best supporting actor for his role in Jerry Maguire. He was in New Orleans shooting a film called The Butler, which is about a White House butler who served eight American presidents. The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Liam Neeson, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Alex Pettyfer, and Minka Kelly. The movie is being directed by Lee Daniels (Precious and Monster's Ball).
