Hawke ‘penn Is Provoked By Photographers’
By WENNFriday, January 8, 2010
ETHAN HAWKE has defended SEAN PENN over his well-publicised battles with the paparazzi, insisting photographers shout “horrifying” things at celebrities.
Penn has brawled with lensmen on a number of occasions, and was even jailed for a month in 1987 after assaulting a snapper on a movie set.
But the Training Day star believes his fellow actor isn’t a malicious person - instead, Penn gets into fights when he believes he has been insulted by photographers.
Hawke tells U.S. magazine Parade, “I have lots of friends in the business who’ve been practically assaulted by the paparazzi. It’s amazing how common that is. I grew up reading things about what a jerk Sean Penn must have been for punching out a photographer. Then, you’re out at a premiere with a date and you hear the things they say to provoke you. I mean, it’s awful. You realise, ‘Oh, that’s why Sean did that. He wasn’t being a maniac.’
“It’s horrifying what photographers will say to get you to look over or to get a rise out of you when you refuse to give them a picture or something.”
But Hawke admits having his photo taken was one of the most seductive aspects to fame at the start of his career.
He adds, “When you start becoming really successful, the demons start to tempt you - the demons of vanity and self importance, drug abuse, the feelings of fraudulence. But, it’s also a thrill. That’s what I found weird. I remember, after I did Dead Poets Society, I went to the Cannes Film Festival. I had my stars in my eyes. I loved getting my picture taken. That’s the funny thing - it’s a push and pull.”
