Steven Frischling Assaulted by (Gigantic) Hugh Grant!

Umbrella-wielding maniac Hugh Grant

Is there no end to his fascinating adventures?

Yet another golden FishTale from the 1990s, apparently a most unfortunate time for Steven Frischling in his storied career as a "photojournalist." In addition to being assaulted by police, being nearly killed by Hurricane Georges and destroying a lens by dropping into onto Olympic ice, it seems Frischling was assaulted by movie star Hugh Grant in 1996!

Yes, according to Steven Frischling, the towering "Huge" Grant struck him in the head with his umbrella, leaving "an ugly gash."

We imagine you would need to be whipped quite hard by an umbrella to leave "an ugly gash." And it sounds like quite a scene, as Frischling claims he "almost punched out" a production assistant!

Unfortunately you will have to take Steven Frischling's word for it (which we do not recommend in any situation ever). Even though "Huge" Grant was already one of the most famous actors in the world, nobody has ever heard this story before! This certainly would have been one of earliest incidents of a star attacking a paparazzo (or "papparazzo" as Frischling would spell it).

Perhaps "Huge" Grant struck everyone in the head with his mighty umbrella to erase their memories? Or maybe he picked up the tiny little witnesses in his gigantic hands and shook them to and fro?

And again, you will have to ask Steven Frischling why he has no photos of "Huge" Grant coming after him with an umbrella, which surely would have sold for quite a nice sum.

alt.journalism.photo: "Papparazzi"

FishFotoJr Apr 16 1996, 1:00 am

Ahhhhhh........

Today I was one of them(papparazzi), I feel dirty and keep showering, but
still the filth of what they do is on me.

Ahhhhhhh..............

(almost had Huge Grant take my eye out with an umbrella, and almost punched out a production ass't)

Steven E. Frischling
Freelance News Photographer
NYPD Working Press #0067

Too young to be respected; Too old to not be taken seriously; INVINCIBLE!;
Fear was just a word in the dictionary; Life was a right, not a gift;
Death was only a concept; STRENGTH!--Nikon F4s ad 1992

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R. Clayton McKee Apr 17 1996, 1:00 am

FishFotoJr <fishfot...@aol.com> wrote:
>Today I was one of them(papparazzi), I feel dirty and keep showering, but
>still the filth of what they do is on me.
>Steven E. Frischling
>Freelance News Photographer
>NYPD Working Press #0067

Get thee hence, foul vermin!!
--
R. Clayton McKee
Photojournalist/Writer <> cmc...@brewich.com
P O Box 571900 <> 713/783-3502 voice
Houston, TX 77257-1900 <> 713/327-6120 pager

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Neil Barker Apr 22 1996, 1:00 am

In article: <4l1lob$...@newsbf02.news.aol.com> fishfot...@aol.com
(FishFotoJr) writes:
> Today I was one of them(papparazzi), I feel dirty and keep showering,
> but still the filth of what they do is on me.
*Grin*
> (almost had Huge Grant take my eye out with an umbrella, and almost
> punched out a production ass't)

Could have been worse - he could have mistook you for Divine....
--
Neil Barker : n...@nbarker.demon.co.uk
Birmingham, England.

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FishFotoJr Apr 23 1996, 1:00 am

Neil,

At least Devine got a million dollar book deal out of it, and about 5,000
pounds off the bat from Rex Features to pose for some photos (I used to do
work for REX USA Ltd (REX Features, London) ) and this had been mentioined
in their officer right after the event.

I just got an ugly gash over my eyelid.

Steven E. Frischling
Freelance News Photographer
NYPD Working Press #0067

Seven months later, he brings the incident up on NPPA, repeating that he was "cut" over the eye by Hugh Grant:

bit.listserv.nppa-l: "This is a working street."

Steven E. Frischling Sep 11 1996, 1:00 am

The last movie set I shot cost me a cut over my eye from Huge Grant. He was
filming whatever that movie that is out now with him and Gene Hackman.

I was informed that if Huge could see the lens I was to close and I would be
arrested, come on this is NYC, what the %$#& were they thinking? The film
crew had effectivly the closed 6th Ave and 23rd Street (no small feet in
Manhattan). The "media relations" person had stated he had a problem the day
before and today did not want to see the press, so he tried to have myself
and the other photogs thrown off the street, the DCPI (Police person in
charge) laughed at the film crew's request. As photographers do a few of us waited by his tour bus to shoot Huge Grant one photog ducked, I was dumb and caught and umbrella just over my eye.

This was so unusual that other photographers inquired as to whether it could have been an accident, and if not, whether he filed a lawsuit? But no, Steven Frischling said he would never do such a thing, worrying about how it would be "persived" and how it might lump the working press in with the "papazarri!" Plus it's no big deal for him, as he covers "violent situations mostly." Scoop just wanted to slap on a Band-Aid and go back to work!

Frischling also adds that obviously Hugh was in such a bad mood in April 1996 because he had "just been caught with hooker a few weeks before," however, this occurred nearly a full year before, in June 1995.

Steven E. Frischling Sep 12 1996, 1:00 am

Alex,

I am fairly sure that when he grumbled and pushed his umbrella into my head it was deliberate, he had to lower the umbrella about 4 inches to do so.

Grant is somewhat knows for being an @$$#@!* with photographers on the set.
I feel that if I had tried to sue Grant I would have been persived most
likley as a money grubbing paparazzi rather than a stringer who took the
assignment he was dealt that day. Despite my somewhat over anxious ego that
comes accross online I am not a glory hunter, yes I do have a big mouth
though, but I do not want to come off as a person who wants to be in the
tabloid , or use a bad incident for financial gains. In NYC the "working
press" often get lumped with the papazarri when shooting movie sets and the
job is hard enough as it is, if a photographer sued a star for something
that could have been avoided if Grant was in a better mood (or not just been
caught with hooker a few weeks before in Hollywood) then the shooting areas
become more restricted causing a harder job for other photographers.

The Celebrities often claim that the photographer provoked them into their
actions, so they see thier actions as justified, this makes photojournalists
look really bad in the eye of the public who often side with the celebrity,
never mind that fact they just injured a photographer. As for me, I was
standing their out of his way, just got a bad break. Besides I cover violent
situations mostly , no biggie on the scar list :-)

I got my $110 for my time, a few rolls of film, and a assignment later than
evening, I was pissed, but ready to forget it , put on a band-aid and go back
to work.

Steven E. Frischling
Freelance News Photographer
1(800)662-5306

"I'm broke, but I'm happy"

It seems you sure dodged a bullet there Mr. Huge! Good thing you assaulted a photographer with such high integrity!

Happy Lying!