Steve Buscemi randomly attacked in New York City
Part and parcel of celebrity status is the inevitability of being asked to take photographs or sign autographs for fans when out and about, but iconic actor Steve Buscemi has become the most recent victim of a much more unfortunate recent trend.
For whatever reason, the Reservoir Dogs star has become the latest well-known public figure to be randomly attacked on the streets of New York City, the place Buscemi has called home since the day he was born.
While out for a walk in the Kips Bay area of Manhattan last week, the Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor, producer, and filmmaker was approached by a complete stranger on the street, who struck him on the face. Buscemi was taken to Bellevue Hospital after suffering swelling to his left eye and face but was otherwise unharmed, with the suspect potentially captured on CCTV footage still at large.
The regular Quentin Tarantino collaborator’s management team issued a statement to The New York Post confirming that Buscemi had been the victim of an unprovoked assault, while voicing dismay that something so egregious could come as a result of nothing more than a stroll around the neighbourhood.
“Steve Buscemi was assaulted in Mid-Town Manhattan, another victim of a random act of violence in the city,” the statement read. “He is OK and appreciates everyone’s well wishes, though incredibly sad for everyone that this has happened to while also walking the streets of New York.”
Buscemi becomes the latest name from the world of entertainment to have been subjected to acts of violence in public over the last few years, with Ghostbusters and Spaceballs favourite Rick Moranis, reality TV regular Bethenny Frankel, and A Serious Man‘s Michael Stuhlbarg – who co-starred with Buscemi on Boardwalk Empire – other names to have been subjected to similar incidents.
One of New York’s proudest sons, Buscemi is understandably shaken up after being attacked for no apparent reason while out for a morning stroll, with the authorities hoping the release of CCTV images will help in apprehending a suspect who decided the best use of their time was to attack one of the most popular and respected character actors in the business for absolutely no reason.
Thankfully, Buscemi remained largely unharmed other than the swelling to his face, but nobody should be in a position – regardless of how famous they may or may not be – where they can’t even walk around the area they live in without being concerned for their own well-being.
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