HANDBAGS & PUNCHBAGS
Rod son: Dad taught me to stick up for family
SIR Rod Stewart’s son Sean isn’t worried about their New Year’s Eve fight arrest, insisting: “The truth will prevail.”
The rock legend, 74, has been charged with criminal battery after being accused of punching a children’s party employee at a Florida hotel on December 31.
Police say Sir Rod later “apologised for his behaviour”.
They were called to the Breakers resort in Palm Beach after security guard Jessie Dixon claimed the singer “threw a punch” at him.
According to a report from Palm Beach Police Department, Mr Dixon alleged Sir Rod struck him in “the left ribcage area,” after son Sean, 39, had shoved him. Yesterday Sean, who practises karate, said Mr Dixon was “being very aggressive”.
He told TMZ: “I’m not allowed to make a comment but I will say this. My dad always taught me to stick up for my family and my loved ones, and that’s what I did and the truth will prevail. Happy 2020.”
When asked what happened, he replied: “He was being very aggressive, that’s all I can say.”
A friend of Mr Dixon’s told the Sunday Mirror he had been left “disturbed” by the incident and claimed members of Sir Rod’s party had been drinking.
They said: “Jessie had given up his New Year’s Eve to earn some extra
Breakers resort, Palm Springs money but has been left quite shaken. There was less than an hour to go before 2020 rang in when things turned nasty. He heard a commotion at the front desk and went over to calm the situation down.
“Rod and Sean took exception to not being allowed in. Jessie refused them entry, and it turned ugly.”
Mr Dixon claimed the incident unfolded after Rod, his son and their group – which included children – tried to enter a private event in the kids’ area of the resort.
Sir Rod told officers “he and his family attempted to have the children in their group gain access”.
After they were denied entry, the Handbags & Gladrags singer claimed Mr Dixon “became argumentative with his family, which in turn caused them to become agitated”.
Officers said there is video of the incident, which shows Rod and Sean as the “primary aggressors”.
They have both been charged with misdemeanour battery and are due in court on February 5.
Under Florida law, it is a first-degree misdemeanour that carries penalties of up to a year in jail or 12 months of probation and a £760 fine.
Sir Rod declined to comment last night.