Christian Bale should be embarrassed over his attempt to videotape a visit to a Chinese human rights activist, which ended up provoking great backlash. China officials say that a scuffle ensued between the “Dark Knight Rises” actor and security guards, who were backed by the nation’s government. The incident was captured on camera by a CNN television news crew that accompanied Bale.
The 37 year old Oscar winner was reportedly in China with his wife Sibi to attend the premier of his new film The Flowers Of War. According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the actor was invited by director Zhang Yimou to attend the opening ceremony of the movie, adding: “But he was not invited to create a story or shoot film in a certain village. I think if you want to make up news in China, you will not be welcome here.”
Bale told CNN in a video interview, “What I really wanted to do is shake the man’s hand and say ‘Thank you’ and tell him what an inspiration he is.”
The activist, Chen Guangcheng, has been confined to his home in the village of Dongshigu for more than 15 months and has served time in jail for property damage and helping to organize a protest. His campaigns against issues such as forced abortions have drawn global attention to human rights issues in Communist China.
Check out this video of Christian Bale getting roughed up in China.
