Brad Pitt punched in face at 'Maleficent' movie premiere: report

Actor Brad Pitt was punched in the face Wednesday night while signing autographs at the Hollywood premiere of "Maleficent" starring his partner Angelina Jolie, news reports said.

A man jumped over a barrier outside the El Capitan Theater and attacked the actor at the debut of the film, Los Angeles police sergeant Leonard Calderon said, according to CNN.

CNN said neither Pitt nor Jolie seemed fazed by the altercation.

Police arrested a suspect identified as Vitalii Sediuk, 25, the Los Angeles Times reported.

It said the motive for the attack was not immediately known. CNN said the alleged assailant could be charged with misdemeanor battery.

Vitalii is a Ukrainian TV journalist who has a reputation for celebrity-related gatecrashing and stunts.

At this year's Cannes film festival, he burst onto the red carpet, threw himself to the ground and put his hands round "Ugly Betty" actress America Ferrera's ankles for a few seconds.

Other targets of his affection have included Will Smith, Madonna, British singer Adele and Leonardo DiCaprio.

In February of last year, he gatecrashed the Grammy music awards, going up on stage after presenter Jennifer Lopez read out Adele's name, The Hollywood Reporter says.

That stunt landed him in jail overnight, the paper added.