Tatum Said Griffin Protected Younger Bro from Ryan

Sun, 07 January 2007 12:00:00 ET

Ryan O'Neal's daughter Tatum has defended her brother Griffin, saying he did not provoke their father when Ryan allegedly assaulted him at the weekend. Tatum, 43, claims her Oscar-winning father is to blame for the family fracas. She said: "No matter what my dad is saying in the press, Griffin was not trying to start a fight, he was attempting to protect his younger brother Redmond."

The 'Paper Moon' actress has a history of feuding with her father and has not spoken to him for years. Ryan's manager Neil Hassman has rubbished her claims, saying: "I would be hesitant to buy into anything Tatum says about her father, or her brothers for that matter."

Ryan, 65, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm, after police were called to his Malibu home in the early hours of Saturday morning (03.02.07). Ryan, who was later released on bail for $50,000, claimed he only got his gun after Griffin started wildly swinging a fireplace poker. The 'Love Story' actor says he was grazed in the attack but Griffin's pregnant 22-year-old girlfriend was struck in the head. Ryan said: "I ducked and he hit his girlfriend. She's seven months pregnant. I got nervous at that point and fled to my room and got my gun. Griffin came up the stairs so I just fired it into the banister. He fled." Redmond, 21, is Ryan's son with 'Charlie's Angels' actress Farrah Fawcett.

« Older

Newer »