Surfers Protect McConaughey, Attack the Paps

Fight turns nasty as local surfers clash with paparazzi snapping pics of the actor

By Jovie Baclayon Jun 22, 2008 9:45 PMTags
Matthew McConaugheyKevin Perkins/Gaz Shirley, PacificCoastNews.com.

A brawl broke out on the beaches of Malibu Saturday afternoon when a group of surfers attacked paparazzi who were snapping pics of Matthew McConaughey.

One shutterbug told police that a mob of surfers approached the photogs near Paradise Cove where the often-shirtless actor was surfing with friends. The surfers demanded everyone stop filming and taking pictures, but when that didn't happen, things got physical.

"[The surfers] formed a semicircle in front of his camera and they said  [McConaughey] didn't want him to film," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore told the Los Angeles Times. "They got into an argument, and [the photographer] indicated that he received injuries...[The surfers] took the video camera and threw it in the water."

There are reports that another paparazzo suffered a broken nose.

Detectives are investigating the melee, which was caught on tape by TMZ.com and X17online.com.

McConaughey's people have yet to comment.