Brian Ach/Getty Images, Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesKiefer Sutherland hasn't exactly tackled his latest PR nightmare head-on, but maybe that's a good thing.
The 24 star's camp has broken its silence on his alleged head-butting of Proenza Schouler codesigner Jack McCollough, which resulted in Sutherland being charged with misdemeanor assault on Friday.
However, while proclaiming his client's innocence in the Met Costume Institute Gala aftermath, the actor's lawyer didn't exactly go out of his way to set the record straight.
"We are troubled by the untruthful and self-serving information circulating regarding Kiefer Sutherland and events of last Monday evening," attorney Michael C. Miller said in a statement.
"We are confident, however, that the investigation being conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the NYPD will confirm that Kiefer Sutherland was neither the instigator nor a wrongdoer in this incident. Out of respect for this law enforcement process, Kiefer Sutherland will not be making any comment."
Per reports, the actor supposedly attacked McCollough (and possibly broke his nose) for something the designer did to onetime Sutherland costar Brooke Shields.
For her part, Shields' team has broken its silence to shoot down "a number of statements [that] have been attributed to Ms. Shields in the media that are neither true nor authorized" and offer her version of events.
"These statements were obviously made by those who were not in attendance at the party and constitute their version of events," said attorney Gerald Lefcourt.
"While at the party she was bumped into by Jack McCollough and Kiefer Sutherland became concerned. Kiefer has always been a gentleman in her company. Both Jack and Kiefer are friends of Ms. Shields and she regrets this unfortunate situation."
Sutherland, 42, is due to be arraigned on the charge June 22.
(Originally published May 11, 2009, at 10:10 a.m. PT)
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