Actor James McAvoy was reportedly punched at a pub in Toronto earlier this week while visiting the city to attend the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The Scottish actor and director was reportedly struck without provocation on Sept. 8 by a man at Charlotte’s Room, a bar in the city’s downtown region, according to People magazine.
The actor of “X-Men” fame was in town to attend the Sept. 6 premiere of his directorial debut, California Schemin,’ at TIFF with his wife, Lisa Liberati.
The 46-year-old was reportedly punched just before midnight while having a drink with his producers at the bar, which is located just a few blocks from the TIFF venue.
“James was having a casual get-together with the producers of his movie and, as he later learned when speaking with the staff, there was a man who drank too much who was getting escorted out,” a source close to McAvoy told People magazine. “James’s back was to him and the man just punched him.”
The source said the punch caught McAvoy off guard but he attempted to defuse the situation while others stepped in to take the man away. The actor reportedly stayed at the bar after the incident.
Toronto police have confirmed that no report was filed about the incident and Charlotte’s Room did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.
Neither McAvoy nor his agent have issued any statements about the incident. McAvoy talked favourably about his TIFF debut on social media.
“We loved our time at tiff with these great people, premiering our movie California Schemin,” he wrote in a Sept. 10 Instagram post. “Thanks to all the Audiences who’ve watched the movie at tiff. Great reactions and vibes in those theatres. It was a privilege to sit and watch it with you. Thank you for having my debut FILM TIFF.”
McAvoy is best known for his role as Professor Charles Xavier in several of the films from the X-Men franchise, as well as for “Atonement,” “Wanted,” and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
