Depardieu punches ‘king of paparazzi’ during date in Rome bar

AN ITALIAN photographer known as the “king of paparazzi” has accused Gérard Depardieu, the French actor of punching him two to three times in the face in Rome yesterday.

Depardieu, 75, reportedly struck Rino Barillari in Italy’s Via Veneto neighbourhood.

One witness said he had not seen such altercations between a celebrity and the media since Via Veneto’s heyday when it would draw the world’s biggest stars and was considered the epicentre of “la dolce vita” scene.

Piero Lepore, the manager of Harry’s Bar in Rome, said Depardieu was in the building when Mr Barillari began taking photos of him.

Without saying a word, Depardieu then approached and struck him in the face, he said.

“Depardieu said nothing, he just walloped Rino a couple of times,” said Mr Lepore. “Then he got into a car and went away. We’re used to seeing famous people but we are no longer used to seeing a punch up like this.”

However, Mr Barillari told SKYTG24 television that Depardieu said “merde”, the French for s---, to him before the alleged attack.

Mr Barillari said the French star uttered the profanity after a woman he was with began throwing ice cubes at the photographer.

“From a concealed position I was photographing Depardieu with a gorgeous girl. She spotted me and chucked some cubes of ice. That’s pretty normal. But I never expected what happened next. He came up to me saying ‘merde’. I smiled and stepped back a bit. But he came towards me. Mamma mia, he’s really big. He punched me three times in the face.’

The woman who Depardieu was having lunch with has been identified as Magda Vavrusova.

According to Italian media, Ms Vavrusova’s lawyer said Mr Barillari pushed her client.

“Faced with the violence of the situation, Depardieu intervened,” said Delphine Meillet.

Via Veneto is one of Rome’s most neighbourhoods where stars of the post-war period like Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper and Orson Welles dressed smartly and drank dry martinis.

Mr Lepore said he thought feisty altercations between journalists and actors had ended long ago.

“They used to be familiar but it feels now that we’ve gone back in time,” Mr Lepore said.

Mr Barillari was reportedly taken to hospital after the alleged assault.

Depardieu has been approached for comment.