Leona Lewis punched by fan during book signing

She was bruised at the side of her head and was left “shaken”, her spokesman said, while police arrested a 29-year-old man at the scene, who remains in custody. The Bleeding Love vocalist was taken to see a doctor as a precaution after being struck, but needed no further treatment. Witnesses said she had been […]

She was bruised at the side of her head and was left “shaken”, her spokesman said, while police arrested a 29-year-old man at the scene, who remains in custody. The Bleeding Love vocalist was taken to see a doctor as a precaution after being struck, but needed no further treatment.

Witnesses said she had been happily signing for around 90 minutes when a man whose book she autographed suddenly punched her in the side of the head. Her spokesman, who was at the signing, did not hear the man say anything to the star during the “unprovoked” incident and security officers swooped in.

The spokesman said: “(Leona) is absolutely gutted she did not get the signings finished.” He added that to hit a woman was “beyond cowardly”. Waterstones said it took security at book signings “extremely seriously” and this was the first incident of its kind. Before the signing session for her book called Dreams, Lewis posed for photographs and spoke to reporters. Interviewed by the Press Association, she said she was pleased to see so many fans in the queue.

“I am so glad at the turnout,” she said. “It’s amazing. I can’t believe people are coming to support and I am just very thankful.” Lewis said she was “excited” about her new album and was looking forward to performing at London’s Hackney Empire next month.

Reuters