Red-Carpet Prankster That Swung at Brad Pitt Pleads No Contest

By
Getty Images


UPDATE:
After striking at Brad Pitt during the Maleficent premiere earlier this week, red-carpet prankster Vitalii Sediuk pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges on Friday and has been placed on a total of three years probation. After being given the choice of being sentenced to 30 days in jail or 20 days of community labor, he chose the community service. Sediuk is also barred from attending any red-carpet or celebrity events and he must have weekly psychological counseling for one year or 52 sessions. For his previous Grammy case, he received 36 months summary probation and must stay away from LA Live by at least 100 yards. His next hearing is July 8 at East LA Court and he must appear to show that he has enrolled in counseling and community service.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Notorious red-carpet prankster Vitalii Sediuk has struck again!

Brad Pitt was attacked Wednesday at the premiere of his fiancée Angelina Jolie's film Maleficient at Hollywood's El Capitan Theater. The 50-year-old actor was signing autographs when he was struck in the face by Sediuk, who had jumped over metal barriers to get close to Pitt.

The 25-year-old attacker was immediately detained by security and wrestled to the ground before being handcuffed and placed under arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor battery.  ET has learned that lawyers were in court Thursday morning on behalf of Pitt in an attempt to seek a restraining order against Sediuk.

Sediuk's lawyer, Anthony Willoughby, reacted to his client's arrest in a statement to ET on Thursday "Mr. Sediuk is presently charged with battery. He is not guilty of the charged offense. Law enforcement overreact when celebrities are concerned. This case is further evidence of this mindset."

VIDEO: Brad Pitt's Attacker Speaks to ET About His Red Carpet Pranks

While Pitt was surprised and shocked by the events, it did not appear that he was injured during the incident. A Disney spokesperson reacted to the attack, telling ET: "This was an unfortunate and inappropriate incident that is being investigated by the LAPD."

Sediuk, a reporter for a Ukrainian television network, has become known for his red-carpet antics. Earlier this month, he was detained at the Cannes Film Festival for sticking his head up America Ferrera's dress. He also famously attempted to kiss Will Smith on a red carpet in 2012, and was then slapped in the face by the actor.

At the 2014 SAG awards in January, Seduik ran onto the red carpet and dropped to his knees to hug Bradley Cooper around his waist, with his face in Cooper's crotch. It was the same stunt he pulled on Leonardo DiCaprio the next month at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.


RELATED VIDEO: Grammys Crasher: Are the Oscars Next?

His biggest prank happened at the 2013 Grammy Awards. Sediuk managed to sneak into the ceremony without passes or credentials. When it was announced that Adele had won an award, he raced on stage and attempted to take the trophy from a surprised Jennifer Lopez.

Related Gallery

Sediuk spent that night behind bars. He narrowly avoided a six-month jail sentence on the condition that he stay out of legal trouble for three years and never come back to the Nokia Theater again.

It has been less than a year since that agreement, and Sediuk has had numerous encounters with the law since. It is unclear if his most recent stunt will carry longer-lasting ramifications than those before.


RELATED: America Ferrera Talks Crazy Cannes Red-Carpet Incident