World

Violent Video: Spectator Attacks Rupert Murdoch With Shaving Cream During Hearing

A dramatic scene unfolded inside a Parliament hearing where News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News Channel, and his son were testifying about the UK phone hacking scandal.

Near the end of the testimony, a man interrupted the hearing and threw a white substance — reported to be shaving cream — on Murdoch who was seated at a table. Murdoch’s wife then launched up from behind her husband and appeared to hit the assailant in the head:

The Guardian was live blogging the hearing and reports the man may be from the radical group UK Uncut, and that the substance was shaving cream:

4.59pm: Reports claim the assailant is a UK Uncut activist.

4.58pm: The BBC‘s Laura Kuenssberg thinks it’s a bandage on the young man’s face – Nick Robinson says it is shaving foam and the young man hit Rupert Murdoch with it.

4.57pm: The suspect looks like he has a substance like white paint on his face.

My colleague Jackie Ashley tells Twitter: “Wendi [Murdoch's wife] can throw quite a punch.”

4.56pm: The BBC says the young man has been handcuffed. Sky showed the footage again – it seemed to be an attack from Rupert Murdoch’s left.

4.55pm: A young man in a checked shirt has been detained by police.

4.54pm: Someone has just tried to attack Rupert Murdoch. His wife Wendi seemed to slap the person.

UK Uncut (which we have reported on here and here), however, has since distanced itself from the attack, but still used the reports to capitalize on the publicity:

Rupert Murdoch Attacked Parliament Hearing Jonnie Marbles

The Guardian goes on to quote Jane Martinson’s account of the incident:

The man lobbed a plate of shaving foam into Murdoch’s face at point blank range. Astonishing reaction from Wendi who, sitting behind her husband, immediately returned fire. James looked stunned, several members of room gasped, but Wendi then sat on desk calmly wiping foam from her husband’s face. Foam all over her blue painted toes as well as two police officers who immediately grabbed him. Shock that he got foam in given tight security. Another man with a long beard also questioned.

The man was apprehended by police and led away, covered in the shaving cream he threw on Murdoch.

Subsequent reports have identified the attacker as a local comedian who goes by the name Jonnie Marbles. According to his Twitter account, the attack seems to have been planned out. In a post right before the attack he wrote:

Rupert Murdoch Attacked Parliament Hearing Jonnie MarblesUK political reporter Paul Waugh — who was hit in the crossfire — confirmed via his own Twitter account that the substance was, in fact, shaving cream. He also was close enough to hear what Marbles uttered before the attack:

Rupert Murdoch Attacked Parliament Hearing Jonnie Marbles

The gallery was cleared after the incident and Murdoch continued to answer questions.

You can learn more about Marbles in our follow-up report here.

This is a breaking story. Updates will be added.

Comments (224)

1 2 3 ... 5
  • RED-DAWN
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:33pm

    1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
    2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
    3. I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy.
    4. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.
    5. A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him ‘Why do you carry a 45?’ The Ranger responded, ‘Because they don’t make a 46.’
    6. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.
    7. The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. ‘Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?‘ ’No ma’am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.’
    8. Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably knows how to use it!

    Report Post »  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Why I Carry a Gun

      My old grandpa said to me son,‘ there comes a time in every man’s life
      when he stops bustin‘ knuckles and starts bustin’ caps and usually it’s
      when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin’.
      I don’t carry a gun to kill people.
      I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

      I don’t carry a gun to scare people.
      I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

      I don‘t carry a gun because I’m paranoid.
      I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

      I don‘t carry a gun because I’m evil.
      I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the
      world.

      I don’t carry a gun because I hate the government.
      I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

      I don‘t carry a gun because I’m angry.
      I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life hating
      myself for failing to be prepared.

      I don’t carry a gun because I want to shoot someone.
      I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and
      not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

      I don‘t carry a gun because I’m a cowboy.
      I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a
      cowboy.

      I don’t carry a gun to make me feel like a man.
      I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the
      ones they love.

      I don’t carry a gun because I feel inadequate.
      I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:39pm

      I don’t carry a gun because I love it.
      I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful
      to me.

      Police Protection is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves.
      Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the
      crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

      Personally, I carry a gun because I’m too young to die and too old to
      take an ass whoopin’.

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • madasblazes
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:48am

      LOL.
      I say…”Way to go, Wendi!”

      Report Post »  
    • RedeemedWench
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 10:11am

      Love it, love it, love it! And a big “amen” from a female “carrier.” Whoop!

      Report Post » RedeemedWench  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:33pm

    Liberal psychosis. I‘m glad conservatives don’t act like that.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:38pm

      No, they just hack into 9/11 victims cell phones and computer.

      Report Post »  
    • Hawke17
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:38pm

      NO they only hack in dead girl’s and 9/11 victims phones ..giving their families false hope ….admit he was wrong you fools

      Report Post »  
    • Bluefish49
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:42pm

      Oh and a progresive rag would never stoop to this…really?

      Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:46pm

      at the two trolls

      allegedly …………………………………..

      there is no evidence only accusations put down the fairy dust

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:49pm

      Bluefish49
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:42pm
      Oh and a progresive rag would never stoop to this…really?
      ___________________________________________________
      We know for a fact that the Conservative News Corp does.

      Report Post »  
    • Miami
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:49pm

      That would be Liberal reporters that take short cuts

      Report Post » Miami  
    • vennoye
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:50pm

      Think I will just wait and hear the facts BEFORE I rush to judgement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • Miami
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:51pm

      By you idiots logic Obama handed gun to drug dealers

      Report Post » Miami  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:57pm

      You two are great examples of liberal psychosis. Murdoch knew all about phone hacking but, Obama and Holder were like Sgt. Schultz when it came to selling guns to Mexican drag cartels?
      “I know nothing…nothing!”

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:02pm

      that would be drug cartels, they were dressed as men.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • dont tread
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:15pm

      NRA till I die, and I live in San Antonio. The cartels make more profits than microsoft, they would be just as armed to the teeth if they weren’t getting guns from us…just saying that nothing will prevent them getting guns from someone and restricting our gun rights won’t do anything to stop that.

      Don’t Tread On My Gun Rights

      Report Post »  
    • USACommoner
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 2:33pm

      You guys should be careful and think before you start calling the hackers Conservatives. Usually when you’re quick to judge, turns out you’re wrong. This class warfare thing is right stupid. You all just look like jealous brats envying the neighbor kid over his new sneakers.

      Report Post » USACommoner  
  • OhioRifleman
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:32pm

    What the hell manner of logic is that supposed to be?

    Report Post » OhioRifleman  
  • andrewkboyle
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:31pm

    How did a bum dressed in head to toe plaid get into a government building holding a pie? The private sector would fire the security agent who let this happen, but the government agent will have no repercussions.

    Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:31pm

    Rupert Murdoch is married to Rosie O’Donnell?

    Report Post »  
    • teebubba
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 2:29pm

      No….He is married to the hot looking Asian woman who also has a relationship with a woman who looks similar to Rosie O’donnel.

      Report Post » teebubba  
  • G.E.R
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:31pm

    The old shaving cream pie to the face. It‘s classic and befitting for man of Murdoch’s caliber

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:38pm

      I‘m willing to bet Murdock’s caliber is pretty high compared to yours.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • EgoBrain
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:46pm

      By your thinking, Congress and the President need a pie in the face. Right?

      Report Post » EgoBrain  
    • G.E.R
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:56pm

      If being of high caliber means a totally lack of morals, decencey, and empathy. I am really glad I’m nothing like him. What HIS company has done for a headline is unforgivable and indefensible.

      Report Post »  
    • Progressives_are_useful_idiots
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:56pm

      @ ego… but honestly, I would LOVE to smash a shaving cream pie in the face of Alfred E Obama.

      Report Post » Progressives_are_useful_idiots  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:05pm

      That’s right G.E.R, he should be hanged by the neck until dead…and it has nothing to do with your hatred for conservative media, right? You are a pillar of morality, congratulations.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • G.E.R
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:36pm

      @Gonzo
      How you came to that conclusion is totally baffling. I don’t wish for anyone to be hanged until dead. But definitely held accountable. I‘m wondering if you will be so eager to defend his actions and the actions of his company if it’s proven that people in this country were hacked, there privacy violated, and their pain exploited. And for what an exclusive on a story.

      @EggoBrain
      There’s several members of Congress who need a pie in the face.

      Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:30pm

    Shaving cream, be nice and clean, shave everyday and you’ll always be keen. Ta-da-da-da-dum-dum
    Seriously though, where is the bailiff? Can people just walk around with white substances in court rooms in London?

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • mrmikejohnson
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:26pm

    Let’s all watch and see how the left calls for everyone to tone down the rhetoric and stop the violent attacks……not. That’s only when a democrat is attacked by another liberal like Jared Loughner.

    Report Post »  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:32pm

      soooo right on that one. and here is obama recently making “gun gestures” (they have expelled grade school boys over) while saying how much he hates AMERICANS.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:10pm

      @BURNTHILLS
      Do you have a link to that? I’d like to see it.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:18pm

      Murdoch’s only agenda is to wage an anti-muslim genocidal propaganda campaign.he could care less about the left or the right; his raison d’etre is to ensure the west gets indoctrinated in zionist propaganda.Apparantly it has worked here with the gullible goy on the right.he’ll make nice with the conservatives and progressives so long as the anti-muslim genocidal zionist propaganda campaign goes through.Beck is his brainwashed lackey as are all those other “neither republican or democratic” fox pundits.Though the reality on the ground intercepted Beck’s latest plan;maybe the reality on the ground of occupied palestinians will one day clash with his only -too -eager -to -oblige- the -zionist -genocidists, current indoctrinated position. But that Murdoch has alot of power in this world.Too much for any country that professes to be democratic and open to all beliefs and opinions and always valuing freedom of speech and inquiry! A media empire as zionist mouthpiece and we have wars to show for it[massmurder and torture of men,women and children],occupation, and a people clamoring for genocide of muslims! And money problems at home!Good job murdoch!!

      Report Post »  
  • Jack2011
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:25pm

    Ronnie Marbles – a comedian = threw a foam pie at Murdock.

    It is on the news.

    Report Post »  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:23pm

    uk uncut, is that a radical group? if so i‘m sure Obama’s people are connected. Obama is out to get Murdoch. Fox News doesn‘t stroke Obama’s Ego. fox news has people that don’t agree with BO and say so.the MSM are just yes men. Glenn Beck on Fox must have really got to BO (the worse president in my life time). call you congress and senate reps, tell them to vote no on the debt ceiling raise. we have to force smaller government.

    Report Post »  
    • capitalismrocks
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:42pm

      This whole affair has nothing to do with Fox News, Fox is a US company owned by News Corp, this is in the UK and is about a completely different company in a completely different Country… furthermore, these continued assaulted of hatred by the Left clearly show that they hate the fact that News Corp brings people the truth and not left tainted lies…. its a sham that the UK – News of the World company seems to have stooped to some really bad tasteless tactics in their business dealings and they will suffer the consequences for it as they rightfully should, however to assault its owner is a load of nonsense, these childish radical leftist tactics are really getting out of hand, eventually one of these leftist radicals is going to do this to someone carrying a legal carry & conceal weapon and is going to get shot for it…. you don’t know what that substance could be… it could be marshmellow topping or a container of liquid bleach…. so people who get assaulted by these radical lefitst loons are going to fight back and some lefty nutjob is going to wind up on the floor with a hole in their forehead if they keep playing these childish, stupid stunts on people.

      Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • The Spark
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:18pm

      Well, almost always. I did some research on the Climategate e-mails and there are some doubts to the actual context of the offending e-mails. For example, the e-mail where the guy that wrote the e-mail says “I‘ve just finished Micheal’s Nature trick,” isn’t actually referring to anything as devious as it sounds. The Micheal referred to in the e-mail is actually Micheal Mann, the creator of the hockey stick graph, and his Nature “trick” is the paper he published in Nature magazine, a peer-reviewed literature magazine. The trick is to phase out tree ring samples after some year in the 1960s, because they had began to record the temperature as lower than it was recorded by other instruments, such as thermometers, and proxy measurements, such as coral samples, ice cores samples, etc. Why the trees had began to record differently is still a mystery and has many theories such as acid rain and others. Anyway, I don’t know why the News organization did not pick up on this reference. They aren’t usually this wrong.

      Report Post »  
  • My Two Cents
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:22pm

    Yup. It takes a real man to attack a defenseless 80 year old man who is sitting in a chair.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:28pm

      Not unlike the american terrorists dropping bombs on the men women and children of afghanistan-the most backward empoverished nation on earth.[or the villages of vietnamese peasants for that matter.]

       
  • paulusmaximus
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:21pm

    Other news sources have only reported on how Murdoch seem to lack full mental function during the questioning,no mention was made of the attack this morning. Check for yourself to see if there is any upgrade of the story yet.

    Report Post » paulusmaximus  
    • FoxholeAtheist
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:27pm

      Oh no! His poor gold digging wife not see the fruits of her labor and sacrifice if he loses all his money on court costs before he dies. Why did she married him again?

      Report Post » FoxholeAtheist  
  • capecodsully
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:21pm

    With all the attacks lately, glitter from homosexual activists, union thugs who don’t like free speech and now this, it’s a good thing we still have concealed weapons permits available to American citizens.

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:20pm

    obamaites even in Britain, physically attacking anyone they disagree with.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • mossbrain
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:17pm

    What no glitter???? My God has the world gone completely mad The inhumanity of it all and not even spending an extra nickel for glitter. Damn cheap English wackos.

    Report Post » mossbrain  
  • Drivenbylogic
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:17pm

    Rest assured I do not condone the invasion of ANYONE’s privacy. This hacking ordeal will only be blood in the water for liberals desperately seeking to silence the ONLY real voice for conservatives in the media here in America, FOX news. Anyone thinking Murdoch will be given the benefit of the doubt by the main stream media is kidding themselves.

    Report Post » Drivenbylogic  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:26pm

      if anything you can smell the stench of soros fueling the sharks going after Murdoch. … who by the way, his name is part of the RESTRICTED WORDS list on Fox Nation forum.. you cannot type/post: BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, MURDOCH, ISLAM, BLACK, or MUSLIM over there.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Ralleo
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:50pm

      If this is the best they could get on Fox News… a round about loose connection because an across the water publication screwed up with tabloid journalism… the libs are really stretching. Can’t even watch CNN or MSNBC because of all the ridiculous lies and falsehoods when it comes to politics. Even if Fox news has to go independent, it will still be a major force in the market.

      Report Post » Ralleo  
  • jmbogstad
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:16pm

    You cannot say conservatives never do these things, but it is about a 10 to 1 ratio.
    check out this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On8eTIqhqRE

    Report Post »  
  • politicaljules
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:16pm

    Praying for the safety of his family. And praying for the liberal jerks both here and overseas to see the error of their ways.

    Wherever I stand , I stand with Israel

    Report Post »  
  • Hemispheres
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:16pm

    Thank you for removing the Mossbrain post. This forum sadly seems to be sinking lower and lower.

    Report Post » Hemispheres  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:22pm

      yes, it has. apparently the obamaites are feeling more and more enabled in attacking Americans on all of the conservative websites… and everywhere on tv.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:26pm

      @Hemispheres
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:16pm
      ‘Thank you for removing the Mossbrain post.’
      *****
      What was removed? Can you quote it? I don’t want to miss his/her posts. One of the most original and funny people here.

      Report Post » Baikonur  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:16pm

    Ahhh…liberals. The party looking out for the little guy…Unless they are assaulting someone, rioting in the streets, or blowing up buildings.
    Thank God I am not one of them.

    Report Post »  
    • llotus
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:40pm

      Baikonir……give youself a little credit……you and your budds are very funny. Give yourselves some redit. Credit where credit is dooooo. I also enjoy reading Mossbrain. Lotus.

      Report Post »  
  • Hemispheres
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:14pm

    Are you 12 years old?

    Report Post » Hemispheres  
  • victoryblaze
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:13pm

    Bozo on Bozo crime oh the horror.

    Report Post » victoryblaze  
  • Obama Bin Lying
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:09pm

    Liberalism at it’s finest. You never see a Conservitive act like this. But the Cindy Sheehans, the Code Pinkers and every other loon that escaped the bin seem to operate like this. They think that if they can’t have their way, then they will act li ke rabbid baboons

    Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • EgoBrain
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:45pm

      Nope. Only from the Left.

      Report Post » EgoBrain  
    • Dustin75
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Ues conservatives are much worse, denying same rights to gay couples and trying to bankrupt the country. Don‘t get me started on the Buchmanns’ and Newt.

      Report Post » Dustin75  
    • RedeemedWench
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 10:22am

      @ Dustin–Conservatives are breaking this country? HA HA HA HA! How so? And the gay couples argument is lame, lame, lame.

      If gay couples were to obtain the same “rights” as a man and woman, then where would it end? Pretty soon, you’d have polygamists, fathers wanting to marry daughters, a woman wanting to marry her ape….get the point? It is all relative to morality and the definition of marriega.

      You want the same rights for gays, Dustin? Push to get the states and government OUT of marriage.
      They weren‘t involved until the 1920’s. Before then, it was people exchanging vows in a ceremony and that was that.

      Newsflash: Married couples are often penalized tax wise for being married!

      So please, Dustin, enlighten us as to exactly HOW the conservatives have broke this country? Ever see a poor man provide jobs?

      Report Post » RedeemedWench  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:08pm

    Good for her, I am so sick of these kinds of jerks.

    Report Post »  
    • Hawke17
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:41pm

      9/11 victims relatives r bet r happy

      Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:09pm

      So he was the one that hacked them-and that’s not even been prove true, so far it’s still hearsay like 90% of the crap thrown around. Anyone comes at my spouse better look the hell out. No young punk out to make a name for himself has the right to attack an 80 year old man-that is just disgusting.

      Report Post »  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:08pm

    Typical Liberal –

    If you don’t like what someone has to say – or what they stand for. Attack them.

    Im surprised he didn’t yell – RACIST – as he threw the powder. Oh wait – he wasn’t losing an argument yet.

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
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