Vitalii Sediuk, the red carpet prankster who physically accosted Brad Pitt at the Hollywood premiere of “Maleficent” May 28 has been fired by the Ukrainian television channel 1+1.
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The 25-year old, who was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, was let go by the network after he leaped under America Ferrera’s dress earlier this month.
1+1 spokesperson Galyna Grubliak said he “no longer represents the interests of the company.”
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She released a statement to the press apologizing for the TV reporter’s behavior.
“[The] prank on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival was Vitalii’s personal initiative,” she wrote. “The journalist did not report his plans to the channel’s Editorial Office. 1+1 Media Company is sorry for the inconvenience caused to the American actress America Ferrera by the journalist’s behavior…Such behavior of the journalist is contrary to the values of the company and notions of journalistic ethics.”
Pitt filed a emergency protective order filed against Sediuk, who is currently still in custody, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department told TheWrap.