Russell Crowe has defended his handling of a crowd of autograph seekers outside a Paris hotel, while fans remain divided over his approach. The actor, 62, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that everyone received autographs and selfies, and he maintained order without security. 'Everybody got their autograph and selfie, the passage to the hotel was kept free for guests, and I still got to the airport on time. One man, no security. Handled. What’s your problem?' Crowe wrote.
A video of the incident showed Crowe setting clear rules before signing autographs. 'Stay where you are, don’t f— push in on me, I’ll come to you,' he said. 'Give everybody space. As soon as somebody’s a d—, I’m gone.' He signed items but declined to write 'Maximus,' his Gladiator character’s name, alongside his signature. The interaction sparked online debate, with some praising his boundaries and others criticizing his tone.
Crowe’s blunt demeanor has been a recurring topic in media coverage. In 2005, he made headlines for throwing a phone at a hotel concierge. The actor has previously expressed frustration with repetitive fan interactions, calling it a form of 'torture' in a 2010 interview.
Former Supernanny Jo Frost defended Crowe, calling his approach 'rules and boundaries.' She argued that fans should respect his space. Others online disagreed, with some calling him 'disrespectful' and others noting that fans contribute to his fame.
The incident occurred as Crowe attended the French Open with his girlfriend, Britney Theriot.