Woody Harrelson got into a physical altercation with a man who reportedly refused to stop taking photos of the Hunger Games actor and his daughter, according to Washington, D.C. police.
The Academy Award-nominated actor, 60, reportedly struck a man in self-defense during a physical altercation on the rooftop of the Watergate Hotel on Wednesday night, according to a police report obtained by USA Today.
According to the report by the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department, a man lunged towards Harrelson and attempted to grab his neck following a "verbal dispute."
Woody Harrelson pictured with his wife Laura Louis. Credit: AGENZIA SINTESI / Alamy
Acting in "defense of himself," Harrelson punched the man. The police report was based on several eyewitnesses accounts.
The unidentified man, who witnesses described to police as "intoxicated," was taking pictures of Harrelson and his daughter, prompting Harrelson to request the person to delete the photos, according to police.
That verbal dispute prompted the physical altercation. Police were called at around 11 PM on Wednesday, October 6, after a report of an assault on the roof deck of The Watergate Hotel, Page Six reports.
Officers arrived and found several people on the roof, including Harrelson and his daughter.
Credit: REUTERS / Alamy
An investigation into the altercation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed yet. The man's name will be released if there are charges.
NBC Washington reports that the man who lunged towards Harrelson is set to face charges, police told News4.
Harrelson has been in Washington, D.C. filming an HBO series called The White House Plumbers, on the Watergate scandal.
The actor is father to three daughters - Makani, 15, Zoe, 25, and Deni, 28 - whom he shares with his wife, Laura Louie.
It is unclear which daughter was with her famous father during the incident.
American actor Woody Harrelson is known to many for his prolific acting career.
The 58-year-old star first became a household name bartender after playing bartender Woody Boyd in 200 episodes of the NBC sitcom Cheers. Since then, Harrelson has truly showcased his diverse talents with roles in movies such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, The People vs. Larry Flynt, and even The Hunger Games series.
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However, what you may not know about the actor is that his father was a convicted murderer who died in prison while serving two life sentences.
Alleged hitman Charles Harrelson was sentenced to two life terms in 1982 for the 1979 murder of a federal judge named John H. Wood Jr - the first federal judge to have been killed in the 20th century.
Charles Harrelson had also been convicted in 1968 murder-for-hire case of grain dealer Sam Degelia Jr, a grain dealer and father of four who was killed in McAllen, Texas. In 1973, Charles was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but he was let out after five years for good behavior.
In 1970, he also stood trial for the death of carpet salesman Alan Berg, but was acquitted by the jury.
It has long been believed that professional gambler Charles was involved in the world of organized crime - with the convict even claiming during a drug-fuelled stand-off with the police that he was involved in the murder of President John F. Kennedy.
In a television interview after his arrest, Harrelson said: "At the same time I said I had killed the judge I said I had killed Kennedy, which might give you an idea as to the state of my mind at the time, but that was in an effort to elongate my life."
Now, a new 10-episode Spotify podcast will delve into the captivating life and crimes of Charles Harrelson.
Per Entertainment Weekly, the podcast, titled Son of a Hitman, will begin in May and will feature new interviews with Woody's brothers, Brett and Jordan.
As of this writing, Woody is not confirmed to be taking part in the podcast in any capacity.
The show will be hosted by journalist Jason Cavanagh, who will reportedly carry out a real-time investigation over the course of the series, which will include on-the-ground reporting with individuals who knew Charles before and after he was arrested.
In an interview with People Magazine back in 1988, Woody spoke candidly about his father - going as far as to describe his conviction as a "travesty".
As well as talking about visiting his father in prison once a year, in this interview, Woody revealed how he felt his father had fallen victim to prejudicial pretrial publicity, and further noted how the trial judge had been one of the murder victim’s pallbearers:
"I don’t feel he was much of a father. He took no valid part in my upbringing.
"[…] This might sound odd to say about a convicted felon, but my father is one of the most articulate, well-read, charming people I’ve ever known.
"Still, I’m just now gauging whether he merits my loyalty or friendship. I look at him as someone who could be a friend more than someone who was a father."
Charles was found dead in his cell in 2007 at the age of 68 after suffering a heart attack.
A woman has been flooded with praise after she filmed her confrontation with a man who was attempting to secretly take photos of her.
The TikTok user, going by the handle @bailzherb, shared a video on Monday, May 3, which showed her confronting a mask-wearing man at the airport. She noticed the man had been secretly attempting to snap a pic of her from a distance with his phone.
Check out this footage of the confrontation in the video below:
Although the unidentified man initially denied that he had been taking pictures of her when asked, when the TikTok user requested to see his camera roll, the man refused and started to walk away.
The video shows @bailzherb following the man as she said: "Sir, it’s really weird to take pictures of females in public without their permission. So you should never do that again. Imagine if we were your daughter or someone related to you."
The man eventually admitted that he had in fact been taking pictures of her, and promised to delete them, to which @bailzherb replied: "I’ll call you out any day because that’s f*****g weird. Don’t ever do that again."
Credit: TikTok/@Bailzherb
The TikTok user captioned the video: "I know some people won’t understand why we are so upset/mad but this happens WAY too often and it’s violating and creepy. [sic]"
The clip instantly went viral on the app, racking up over 4 million views and a further 27,000 comments at the time of writing.
A number of other TikTok users have praised the woman for standing up to the man in public.
Credit: TikTok/@esyaboijef
One person commented: "Mad respect for being loud and embarrassing him."
Credit: TikTok/@maryjanenotkate
Another added: "I see that ring on his finger too... thinking of his family. So so sick."
Credit: TikTok/@collywallybally
While a third added: "I'm so proud of you I could never I would be so scared but that was amazing. [sic]"
Credit: TikTok/@vanillacattt
There was even some helpful advice from an airport worker, with one person writing: "Hello, airline employee! Next time report it to the airport and they will find out who he is."
A number of other commenters expressed concern that the man's behavior was similar to that of a trafficker.
Credit: TikTok/@devynmolinari
One TikTok user wrote: "This is literally how people get scouted/trafficked so I'm really glad you realized and spoke up about it."
Credit: TikTok/@alize626
A second person agreed, writing: "Some of y'all don't realize that this is how people get kidnapped and trafficked."
Credit: TikTok/@amazondiscountpromos
Another social media user added: "Commenting so it goes viral. This is how ppl get kidnapped. [sic]"
A Sydney-based paparazzo has accused Taylor Swift's father of punching him after the singer performed a show in the city.
Ben McDonald said he told law enforcement the altercation occurred at Neutral Bay Wharf, where the All Too Well singer and her dad had just come ashore from a yacht hours after the singer's final concert in Sydney.
Though police did not release any names, they were said to be investigating an alleged assault by a 71-year-old man on a 51-year-old man at 2:30AM local time.
Swift's reps have not responded to the accusation, but a spokesperson told Rolling Stone two people were "aggressively pushing" to get to her.
Taylor Swift's father Scott. Credit: Alo Ceballos / Getty
They went on to say that the people grabbed security and threatened a member of the pop star's staff.
McDonald said paparazzi had been waiting to take pictures of Swift as she walked towards two vehicles.
"There were about four or five security there and at one point, one of the American security started shoving his umbrella into me and my camera and then Taylor got in her car," he told the Associated Press. "Someone else came running at me and punched me in the left side of my face.
"Initially, I thought it was an Australian security that was trying to be the hero of the moment in the front of the Americans, but as it turned out it was her father."
McDonald said he recognized Swift's father, Scott Swift, from a photo he'd seen on the internet - going on to say that he didn't sustain any bruises and doesn't need any treatment.
"In 23 years, I haven't been assaulted and punched in the chops, particularly by the talent's dad," he said.
Credit: Don Arnold/TAS24 / Getty
"We didn't go rushing down the jetty. We didn't go rushing to the back of the boat. We waited for her to come up. Kept it very civil.
"But no, they... put the umbrellas up and umbrellas over her and then shove the umbrellas into our faces and then make out that we're the ones making contact with them."
Swift left Australia on Tuesday after more than 600,000 fans enjoyed her Eras Tour performances spanning seven concerts.
Last month, Swift was repeatedly shown on the big screens of Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce, who is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The singer recently donated an incredible $100,000 to the family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan - the beloved mom who tragically lost her life as a result of the Kansas City parade shooting.
As previously reported, the shooting unfolded at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, around 3:30PM on February 14 as detailed by Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves.
Despite the presence of more than 800 police officers, the three assailants managed to cause life-altering levels of devastation. The attack resulted in 22 people sustaining injuries, and the death of local DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan.
Featured image credit: Christopher Jue/TAS24 / Getty
Woody Harrelson is known for playing larger-than-life characters in everything from Cheers to No Country for Old Men to The Hunger Games to True Detective. But the story of his real-life family might be the wildest story of all.
Long before Woody was a household name, his father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, was making headlines of a very different kind — as a contract killer with deep ties to organized crime, and ultimately, as the man responsible for the first assassination of a federal judge in the 20th century.
Woody Harrelson has been very open about his upbringing. Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images
A Hollywood star’s little-known legacy
Charles Harrelson's criminal record reads like something out of a noir thriller. Tried for three murders and convicted twice, Charles spent most of his life either in prison or trying to escape it.
Born in Lovelady, Texas, in 1938, he worked early on as a professional gambler and encyclopedia salesman — before allegedly becoming a hitman for hire.
He was first convicted in 1968 for the murder of Texas grain dealer Sam Degelia Jr. and served just five years before being released. Then came the crime that stunned the nation.
In 1979, Charles was arrested for the murder of US District Judge John H. Wood Jr., the first sitting federal judge to be assassinated in the US during the 20th century. Charles carried out the hit on behalf of drug dealer Jamiel Chagra, who paid him $250,000 to eliminate the judge before his upcoming trial.
Woody's father, Charles Harrelson, was a notorious hitman. Credit: Houston Police Department
According to a detailed report by Texas Monthly and later echoed in numerous accounts, Charles was captured after a six-hour armed standoff with police, during which he allegedly confessed not only to Judge Wood’s murder — but also to the assassination of JFK, a claim widely dismissed as delusional.
In 1982, he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He died in 2007 at the Florence supermax prison in Colorado.
Growing up with a ghost
For Woody, born in 1961, life with Charles as a father was anything but stable. In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, he recalled how his dad was “away and back. Away and back” — in and out of prison throughout his early years.
“I think they separated when I was 7, but he was gone a lot before that,” Harrelson said. “[My mom] was well out of love with him… but she never really soured us on him. She didn’t talk negative about him, never, ever. And she could have — he wasn’t the greatest husband. Or father.”
Raised by their mother Diane Harrelson in Texas and Ohio, Woody and his brothers - Jordan and Brett - were essentially estranged from their father for much of their lives. But despite the distance, Woody has never completely written him off.
In a candid 1980s interview with PEOPLE, he said: “I don’t feel he was much of a father. He took no valid part in my upbringing. This might sound odd to say about a convicted felon, but my father is one of the most articulate, well-read, charming people I’ve ever known.”
He added: “I look at him as someone who could be a friend more than someone who was a father.”
Fans stunned by true-crime twist
Though the story isn’t new, it gained fresh traction after an Instagram post by historyfeels revisited Charles Harrelson’s crimes — including his botched escape attempt and alleged mob ties — prompting an outpouring of stunned reactions online.
“I was today years old when I learned this… holy cow!” one user wrote.
“Congrats to Woody for breaking the cycle and becoming a peace-loving person,” another added.
Others questioned why the story was resurfacing at all: “Poor Woody doesn’t need reminding — and really, it’s no one’s business.”
A DNA twist that shocked even Hollywood
As if Woody’s family history wasn’t dramatic enough, there's one more twist: he and fellow actor Matthew McConaughey might actually be brothers.
On an episode of the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast in 2023, McConaughey revealed that during a trip to Greece, his mother made a cryptic comment to Woody: “Woody, I knew your dad.” According to McConaughey, she said "knew" with heavy, suggestive emphasis.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have long been compared in the looks department. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty
The pair later discovered that Charles Harrelson was on furlough at the same time McConaughey’s parents were going through their second divorce — and in the same part of Texas.
Woody later confirmed the rumor had legs, telling Esquire: “I learned from Ma Mac, Matthew’s mother, that she did have a relationship with my father… coinciding with the time of Matthew’s, let’s say, origination.”
Though no DNA test has been done, Woody added: “We haven’t done a test, but there are too many times that I think to myself, My God, the similarities… I’ve felt that for years.”
Credit: Omar Vega/Getty Images
Breaking the cycle
Despite growing up with the shadow of one of America’s most notorious contract killers, Woody Harrelson’s life has been defined by a very different kind of legacy — one of humor, activism, and artistic reinvention.
He’s been nominated for three Oscars, starred in cult classics and billion-dollar blockbusters, and built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and unpredictable stars.
As one fan put it perfectly in response to Charles’ story going viral again: “Hats off to Woody Harrelson for not letting his past personal life dictate his own life and, ultimately, his career.”
The story of Woody Harrelson and his father isn’t just about crime, infamy, or scandal — it’s about the power of choice, and the paths we carve for ourselves, no matter where we come from.
Featured image credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for HBO
A lip reader has shared what Denzel Washington yelled at a photographer during a heated exchange at Cannes.
The 70-year-old Oscar-winning star was attending the May 19 premiere of his film Highest 2 Lowest alongside co-star A$AP Rocky when the incident occurred.
As the pair walked the red carpet, a photographer tugged on Washington’s suit jacket, sparking an immediate and visibly heated reaction.
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Mail Online that Washington turned and said, “Hey, one-one more time, stop. Let me tell you - stop, stop - never put your hands on me again.”
He also reportedly pointed a finger at the man, who grinned back rather than backing down. Washington added, “I’m talking to you, stop, all right.”
According to Freeman, the photographer replied, “Not allowed,” before laughing and saying, “Yes, yes, yes.” When he grabbed at Washington again and asked, “Can I take a picture?", the Equalizer actor shouted, “Stop, stop it, stop it. I mean it. Stop, stop it.”
Footage of the moment shows Washington emphatically pointing and shouting “Stop it!” - clearly angry at the repeated contact.
As one fan on X (formerly Twitter) put it: “You can clearly see Denzel say ‘do not put your hands on me’ and then the guy does it again. What a clown.”
Another fan wrote: "I don't get that stuff. These folks are around people all day, every day grabbing at them and asking them for stuff. Not a life I'd ever want, I see stuff like how Denzel reacted and I give him the total pass.”
Despite the clash, Washington's night ended on a high note. Director Spike Lee surprised him with an honorary Palme d’Or - a moment that clearly moved the two-time Academy Award winner.
“This is a total surprise for me!” he said, per PEOPLE. “I'm a little emotional, but from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. It was a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again - brother from another mother, Spike.”
Lee, who has worked with the Training Day star for decades, called him “my brother” during the presentation. The ceremony had been specially arranged for Washington’s only off-day from his role in Othello in New York.
Spike Lee, A$AP Rocky, Denzel Washington at the Highest 2 Lowest Premiere during The 78th Cannes Film Festival. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty
Highest 2 Lowest, a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller High and Low, wasn’t listed in the initial Cannes lineup.
The film was added only after it was confirmed that Washington could attend. The movie will be released by A24 in theaters on August 22 before hitting Apple TV+ on September 5.
The Cannes run-in isn’t the first time the Gladiator actor has lost patience with intrusive behavior.
Just seven months earlier, he had a similar moment at a film benefit in New York for his friend Samuel L. Jackson.
As fans swarmed him for autographs, he was filmed saying: “Put this down. I heard you. You talk about showing love… respect me," per Metro.
When one fan replied, “We always do,” he shot back, “I said, ‘I’ll see you when I get out.’ Which part of that don’t y’all understand?” Then he warned: “Or not, or not! We can do it another way. I can do it both ways, y’all.”
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