Cuba Gooding Jr off the hook after bartender drops assault charges

Washington: A female bartender from New Orleans who claimed that she was shoved by Cuba Gooding Jr., will not be pressing charges over a disruption that may have started when other restaurant patrons wanted pictures with the actor.

“While we continue to investigate this matter internally, we are hopeful that this will put an end to the matter,” People Magazine quoted Old Absinthe House spokeswoman Carolyn Pierce, as saying. Gooding, 44, who is in New Orleans filming ‘The Butler’ about the White House butler who served eight presidents, was temporarily the subject of an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge of municipal battery. The bartender told police the Oscar-winning actor – upset after people starting asking him to pose for pictures around 3 am Tuesday – pushed her when she asked him to calm down. He pushed her again when she told him to leave, she said. By the time police arrived, Gooding was gone. The arrest warrant was later lifted and Gooding’s rep called the incident a “misunderstanding.” ANI