The most commonly cited favorite film by MMA fighters is probably the award-winning documentary Gladiator. It was the breakthrough role for Russell Crowe, who plays Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius. Crowe is a celebrated actor, with an Academy Award, but also has a reputation for aggressive tendencies. While the media has doubtless made more of it than is real, there’s a little fire to go with the smoke.
Perhaps most infamously, Crowe was staying at Mercer Hotel in New York City, and allegedly threw a telephone at concierge Nestor Estrada after the phone in his hotel room didn’t work. Crowe was arrested, suffered a perp walk, pled guilty, and reportedly settled with Estrada for a rumored $100,000.
Rapper Azealia Banks claimed in a later-deleted Facebook post that, “I went to a [party] at Russell Crowe’s suite, at which he called me a n*****, choked me, threw me out, and spat at me. Last night was one of the hardest nights of sleep I’ve had in a long time.” Other accounts indicated that Banks had threatened to cut the throats of other partygoers, and Crowe prevented violence. Banks’ case was dropped by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.
Crowe reportedly brawled at London’s Zuma restaurant with New Zealander Eric Watson, and ended up throwing plates at the rugby team owner. Police were reportedly called, but there were no injuries or allegations of a crime, so no further action was taken.
Crowe even apparently got into it with his own bodyguard, Mark “Spud” Carroll, on the set of “Cinderella Man.” That one turned out to be over a misunderstanding, but didn’t resolve untol after Crowe tried to bite “Spud” in the chest. In another incident, expanding his brawling technique, Crowe headbutted Peter Cousens, his co-star in the musical Blood Brothers”.. Cousens was reportedly in the dressing room screaming at Crowe, whose arms were held by other actors; Crowe later explained the headbutt was all that was available.
And then there is the time Crowe got into it with former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pittbull” Arlovski. In an exclusive interview with Jonathan Schrager for MixedMartialArts.com, Arlovski recounts confronting Crowe’s sometimes aggressive nature.
“Russell Crowe is a great, great actor, but I remember, I was at the De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao fight,” began Arlovski. “Russell was there; he came with some big security guy. I said, ‘Hey Russell, I’m a huge fan, can I take a picture with you?’ He just looked at me and the f***ing guy pushed me, I pushed him back. We almost started to fight. Since then, I don’t like Russell Crowe.”
Watch the entire interview here:
There are lots more stories, and while in aggregate, it appears as if Crowe deserves induction into the A****** Hall of Fame, the media blows things up. So while Russell Crowe is no Keanu Reeves, you probably have an uncle who’s a bigger butthead.
In Crowe’s next film, an MMA action drama co-starring Daniel MacPherson titled The Beast In Me, he plays a veteran fight coach.
