Sam Worthington was arrested on Sunday afternoon in New York City after getting in a fight with a paparazzo, which ended up with both men a bit bloody and in handcuffs.

Sam Worthington Claims Paparazzo Assaulted His Girlfriend

Worthington, known for his lead role in Avatar, was walking in Greenwich Village with his model girlfriend Lara Bingle when the photographer, Sheng Li, allegedly kicked Bingle’s shins to elicit a reaction from her for a photograph, sparking a physical confrontation with Worthington. Worthington was issued a desk appearance ticket and then released, while Li was charged with assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. This isn't the first time Worthington has been in trouble with the law. In 2012, he was arrested for disorderly conduct.

At Li’s arraignment on Monday, Feb. 24, Li told a different story, claiming that it was Bingle who went after him and instigated the altercation.

“[Li] was on the job taking pictures and Ms. Bingle got upset and ran half way up the block and attacked him,” Li’s lawyer declared in court.

Bingle told the police that Li had been following her for hours that day and both she and Worthington claimed that it was Li who assaulted Bingle, not the other way around.

“The defendant followed her on a public street for approximately four hours, kept getting in her way as she was walking down the street and was trying to trip her, which caused her to fear for her safety,” reads the police report according to MailOnline.

Photog Says Bingle Attacked Him First

As seen in this video obtained by MailOnline, Worthington can be clearly seen and heard saying that Li kicked Bingle, and Worthington can also be heard calling Bingle his “wife” as Li shouts, “Don’t touch me!”

After the altercation, Worthington and Bingle attempt to take Li’s camera away, and then reportedly waited for the police to arrive.

Li’s lawyer dismissed Bingle’s accusations in court, saying, “She claims that Mr. Li was following her for four hours and then runs up and kicks her in the shins. In what world does that make sense?”

Li was released on his own recognizance. Worthington and Bingle have not yet commented on the matter, nor have they spoken about the status of their relationship, though they have been photographed wearing matching rings on their ring fingers.

Bingle did, however, post a quote from Amy Poehler on Instagram following the arrests that reads, “I want to be around people that do things. I don’t want to be around people anymore that judge or talk about what people do. I want to be around people who dream, and support, and do things.”

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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