October 15, 200916 yr Leona Lewis in tears after being punched in the face by a male fan at book signing By Sara Nathan Last updated at 10:37 AM on 15th October 2009 Add to My Stories Leona Lewis was punched in the face at a book signing yesterday. The 24-year-old star needed treatment for a cut to her face after she was assaulted in front of hundreds of horrified fans at a London bookstore. A man was last night in custody on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. Scroll down for a video report... Distressed: Leona Lewis appeared shaken up as she left the book shop Miss Lewis, who won The X Factor in 2006, was signing copies of her autobiography Dreams at Waterstone's in Piccadilly. Leona Lewis is escorted from the book store after the alleged assault She had been at the shop for more than an hour when the man, who had been waiting in the queue for five hours, suddenly lashed out at her. Shocked fans could only look on in horror as she clutched her head before bursting into tears. Five security guards piled in to restrain her attacker, pinning him to the ground until police arrived at the scene. One fan told the BBC: 'My brother saw the whole incident. 'He [the attacker] walked up there with the book, she signed it and, as she looked up, he just punched her.' Another witness said her attacker yelled: 'I love you, Leona' - and she screamed back: 'I don't love you.' A separate bystander added: 'I heard Leona cry out in pain and she was quickly led off by her security as more security guards and fans restrained the man until police arrived. 'She had sunglasses on and even though she had her face in her hands you could see she was clearly crying and her face was swollen. 'The worst thing is that the man was grinning - he thought it was funny.' The man is described as over 6ft, skinny, with mousy brown long hair. He was wearing scruffy jeans and a jacket. A spokesman for Miss Lewis, who witnessed the attack, said he did not hear the man say anything. Aftermath: Miss Lewis can be seen (far left) with her hand to her eye while security staff (right) bundle a man to the ground Suspect: Police were called and arrested the man detained by security guards He confirmed the singer had suffered bruising to the side of her head and was taken to a private doctor in Central London as a precaution. Miss Lewis was signing books when the incident happened The spokesman added that Miss Lewis was left feeling 'shaken', adding: 'Leona is absolutely gutted that she did not get the signings finished. 'This guy whacked her one in the face, and she was sitting down and he was standing up, so you couldn't get more cowardly.' Miss Lewis had been due to appear on BBC1’s The One Show after the signing at Piccadilly in central London, but her appearance was cancelled and Gaby Logan stepped in. The star has been based in Los Angeles while she worked on her new album. But she returned to the UK ahead of her first ever full UK show, on November 2. She will perform at the Hackney Empire in front of 1,250 fans. Miss Lewis, who sold six million copies of her debut album around the world, will release her album, Echo, a fortnight later. Although she is yet to play a proper UK show, Miss Lewis has played a number of high profile events including Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert at Hyde Park. She also played the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, alongside Jimmy Page. Before the signing, the singer said she was 'excited' about her new album and was looking forward to her concert next month. She added: 'That's really exciting for me, going back to Hackney Empire. 'I won my first show there when I was 13 and it's good to go back and give the people of Hackney, and everywhere, something to be proud of.' A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'We were called at 4.35pm to reports of assault against a woman at the Waterstone's store in Piccadilly Circus. We have arrested a male on suspicion of ABH.' Miss Lewis was at the store to promote her autobiography Dreams Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1220415/Leona-Lewis-tears-punched-face-male-fan-book-signing.html#ixzz0TzubXtIl
October 15, 200916 yr Author I know her music's bad, but there's no excuse for that sort of behaviour................................... :stunned:
October 15, 200916 yr I know her music's bad, but there's no excuse for that sort of behaviour................................... :stunned: agreed.
October 15, 200916 yr Author Man, 29, charged with assaulting Leona Lewis at book signing in London By Sara Nathan Last updated at 7:45 PM on 15th October 2009 Comments (132) Add to My Stories A man has been charged and sectioned under the Mental Health Act, after Leona Lewis was punched during a book signing in London. Peter Kopwalczyk, 29, from south London, was arrested at the Waterstone's book store in central London on Wednesday afternoon moments after the Bleeding Love singer was assaulted as she signed copies of her autobiography for fans. Police say Kowalczyk has been sent to a mental hospital, but is due to appear in court charged with assaulting the former X Factor winner later this month. Scroll down for a video report... Distressed: Leona Lewis appeared shaken up as she left the book shop A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Peter Kowalczyk, aged 29 of SE1, has today been charged with common assault and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He is due to appear at city of Westminster Magistrates Court on October 26th.' Leona cancelled a visit to Germany today as she recovered from the assault. The 24-year-old had been due to fly out for a day-long promotional trip, but pulled out in the aftermath of the incident. Former X Factor winner Lewis had been signing copies of her autobiography at Waterstone's Piccadilly in London yesterday afternoon, when a man in the queue allegedly lashed out. She was left 'shaken'. Lewis said today that the experience was a 'horrible shock'. In a statement she said: 'Thank you so much for your support, it is truly overwhelming. 'Yesterday was a horrible shock and left me extremely hurt and upset. I'm very sorry to those I wasn't able to meet at the signing. 'Thank you again for all of the lovely messages. Love you all.' Her spokesman said: 'Leona was due to go to Germany today for promo but that has now been cancelled.' He added: 'Leona is obviously shocked after yesterday but is OK.' Leona Lewis is escorted from the book store after the alleged assault Rehearsals for her first major UK show are due to begin next week and it is understood Lewis is planning to press ahead with them. She is due to play the Hackney Empire next month. Lewis was taken to see a doctor as a precaution after being struck, but needed no further treatment. Miss Lewis, who won The X Factor in 2006, was signing copies of her autobiography Dreams at Waterstone's in Piccadilly. She had been at the shop for more than an hour when the man, who had been waiting in the queue for five hours, suddenly lashed out at her. Shocked fans could only look on in horror as she clutched her head before bursting into tears. Five security guards piled in to restrain her attacker, pinning him to the ground until police arrived at the scene. One fan told the BBC: 'My brother saw the whole incident. 'He [the attacker] walked up there with the book, she signed it and, as she looked up, he just punched her.' Another witness said her attacker yelled: 'I love you, Leona' - and she screamed back: 'I don't love you.' A separate bystander added: 'I heard Leona cry out in pain and she was quickly led off by her security as more security guards and fans restrained the man until police arrived. 'She had sunglasses on and even though she had her face in her hands you could see she was clearly crying and her face was swollen. 'The worst thing is that the man was grinning - he thought it was funny.' The man is described as over 6ft, skinny, with mousy brown long hair. He was wearing scruffy jeans and a jacket. A spokesman for Miss Lewis, who witnessed the attack, said he did not hear the man say anything. Aftermath: Miss Lewis can be seen (circled in red) with her hand to her eye while security staff (right) bundle a man to the ground Suspect: Police were called and arrested the man detained by security guards He confirmed the singer had suffered bruising to the side of her head and was taken to a private doctor in Central London as a precaution. Miss Lewis was signing books when the incident happened Waterstones said it took security at book signings "extremely seriously" and this was the first incident of its kind. The firm added: 'We would like to thank Leona for her professionalism and we are extremely sad that this event was ruined for her, and her fans, many of whom queued from the early hours of the morning to meet her.' The spokesman added that Miss Lewis was left feeling 'shaken', adding: 'Leona is absolutely gutted that she did not get the signings finished. 'This guy whacked her one in the face, and she was sitting down and he was standing up, so you couldn't get more cowardly. 'She was in pain and when police arrived, they advised her to go and see a doctor. 'Leona is incredibly shaken up. It was absolutely horrible. 'She will see how she is feeling today and will decide if she's up to working. 'At the moment, she's too shaken up to think about any of that. 'She is expected to fly to France this weekend but that remains to be seen.' Miss Lewis had been due to appear on BBC1’s The One Show after the signing at Piccadilly in central London, but her appearance was cancelled and Gaby Logan stepped in. The star has been based in Los Angeles while she worked on her new album. But she returned to the UK ahead of her first ever full UK show, on November 2. She will perform at the Hackney Empire in front of 1,250 fans. Before the signing session for her book called Dreams, Lewis posed for photographs and spoke to reporters. She said she was pleased to see so many fans in the queue. 'I am so glad at the turnout,' she said. 'It's amazing. I can't believe people are coming to support and I am just very thankful.' Lewis had talked about how excited she was about playing her homecoming show in Hackney. 'That's really exciting for me, going back to Hackney Empire,' she said. 'I won my first show there when I was 13 and it's good to go back and give the people of Hackney, and everywhere, something to be proud of.' Miss Lewis, who sold six million copies of her debut album around the world, will release her album, Echo, a fortnight later. Although she is yet to play a proper UK show, Miss Lewis has played a number of high profile events including Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert at Hyde Park. She also played the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, alongside Jimmy Page. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'We were called at 4.35pm to reports of assault against a woman at the Waterstone's store in Piccadilly Circus. We have arrested a male on suspicion of ABH.' DO YOU KNOW LEONA'S ALLEGED ATTACKER? CONTACT THE DAILY MAIL ON 0207 938 6364 Miss Lewis was at the store to promote her autobiography Dreams Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1220415/Leona-Lewis-tears-punched-face-male-fan-book-signing.html#ixzz0U2NWUXGk
October 16, 200916 yr why was it posted again? and I remember when Bleeding Love was stuck in my head for the longest time! :P lol
October 16, 200916 yr Leona Lewis in tears after being punched in the face by a male fan at book signing
October 16, 200916 yr Author why was it posted again? There was new information about the alleged attacker.;) and I remember when Bleeding Love was stuck in my head for the longest time! :P lol What a nightmare!:stunned:
October 16, 200916 yr I know her music's bad, but there's no excuse for that sort of behaviour................................... :stunned: Agreed. She's not even the worst, anyways. If you're planning on getting arrested for punching a bad musician, do it to someone who really deserves it. Like Lady GaGa. Or The Jonas Brothers. Or Britney Spears. :P
October 17, 200916 yr If you're planning on getting arrested for punching a bad musician, do it to someone who really deserves it. Like Lady GaGa. Or The Jonas Brothers. Or Britney Spears. :P Jonas Brothers would be assaulting minors, not worth the jail time. Britney's already been punched metaphorically, it wouldn't do much. Punch GaGa.
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