Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden is facing questioning from police over a run-in with a paparazzi photographer on Saturday night outside Los Angeles’ famed Mr. Chow restaurant.
According to Beverly Hills Police Department Lieutenant Mitch McCann, a photographer filed a report on Monday in which she claimed that Madden struck her on the left breast with the heel of his hand as he was escorting girlfriend Nicole Richie from the back door of the restaurant to his car. The photographer, whose name McCann declined to reveal, reportedly told TMZ that she suffered a welt on her chest from the incident that required medical attention.
In a video clip on TMZ that reportedly shows the confrontation, Madden, with his head down, holds Richie’s hand as he leads her through the scrum of snapping flashes. He is heard repeating “Get out of the way!” as he brushes past the alleged victim; the photographer steps to the side but does not appear to fall or stumble as a result of contact with Madden. Seconds later, Madden is seen pushing a male photographer away from the car, more forcefully this time, as he and Richie get ready to speed away.
McCann said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and he did not know if Madden had been questioned. Calls to Madden’s spokesperson for comment had not been returned at press time.
The incident occurred a day after E! reported that Richie was rushed to the hospital after feeling faint on the set of “The Simple Life.” She was treated for dehydration and released that same day.