Dubai: Minutes after Omar Sharif reportedly slapped a female fan at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, the truth emerged.
After becoming annoyed with a pushy female, the Hollywood legend was caught on cameras at the festival in Qatar appearing to slap and push the woman, before launching into a tirade of abuse.
However, the slap only appeared a such because of the angle of the camera and Sharif then went on to have his picture taken with the fan, who in fact was a member of the press covering the annual event.
The actor, who was nominated for his role in 1962's Lawrence of Arabia, appeared to have lost his cool when the female interrupted him while he was posing for photographers.
Viral
The incident, captured by a camera crew, immediately went viral.
"My dear!" Sharif exclaimed in Arabic. "I told you I'd get to you afterwards. I just said that and you're standing here. Put something in your brain."
Another female attempted to calm him down. But in a stange turn of events the reporter then apologised for her intrusion and asked for a photograph.
A reporter who was on the scene tweeted, "Omar Sharif just hit a woman. Very stupidly, in front of a camera."
Tweet: Sharif did not hit me
Hours later the reporter in question tweeted saying Sharif did not hit her.
This is not the first time Sharif has lost his cool.
The actor's heated temper dates back to 2003 when he attacked a cop in a Paris casino, and in 2007 when he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery for beating up a Beverly Hills Parking attendant.
