Vitalii Sediuk's chances of furthering his career as a television personality is becoming more slim following his latest attack on an A-lister. The Ukrainian, who had reportedly struck actor Brad Pitt at his wife Angelina Jolie's premiere for the movie "Maleficent," has been already fired by his employer after he pulled a stunt on "Ugly Betty" actress America Ferrera at Cannes on May 17.
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, a spokeswoman for Ukraine television network Channel 1+1 said Sediuk has been fired after the Cannes incident. Galyna Grubliak said, "[The] prank on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival was Vitalii's personal initiative. The journalist did not report his plans to the channel's Editorial Office. 1+1 Media Company is sorry for the inconvenience caused to the American actress America Ferrera by the journalist's behavior," the statement continued. "Such behavior of the journalist is contrary to the values of the company and notions of journalistic ethics."
The 25 year-old is also facing charges thanks to his stunts. The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office confirmed to Yahoo that Sediuk is to be charged with assault, battery, unlawful activity, and interference at a theatrical event. Sediuk, who is currently held in a county jail on a $20,000 bail, has yet to finish probation for trespassing at last year's Grammy Awards, when he intercepted an award meant for British singer-songwriter Adele.
Defense attorney Andrew Flier, who does not represent the Ukrainian, said about Sediuk's legal dilemma, "If he is on probation, that probation could be violated and a judge could sentence him to a maximum incarceration of six months. This person does seem to be a little out of control."
Should there be a media outfit who is willing to take Sediuk in its employ after he sorts out his legal dilemma, it is highly unlikely that he will be able to meet celebrities, or the high-profile ones at least. Elijah Shaw of Icon Services Corp, whose company provides protection services to big names local and abroad, said, "Vitalii already is pretty notorious in our circle. Each time he gets bolder and bolder. Security professionals have a list, a kind of a do-not-admit list, with names and photos of individuals like him. I guarantee you he's already on that list."
