Louis Tomlinson has reportedly told pals he was just "protecting his girlfriend" after he was arrested and charged at LAX airport.
The former One Direction star was released on bail after an altercation with a paparazzi and two girls at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday (03.03.17), and according to an insider, the 25-year-old singer was simply stepping in to break up the brawl between the overzealous fans and his girlfriend Eleanor Calder.
A source told The Mirror Online: "Those girls were attacking Eleanor and Louis rushed in and pushed them away. He is adamant everything he did was to protect his girlfriend and that is what he has been telling his friends."
The incident occurred at baggage claim at the Los Angeles airport, when Louis tried to stop a paparazzo from taking pictures of Eleanor, 24.
As he tussled with the photographer, Louis tripped and appeared to accidentally drag the snapper to the floor with him, with the man claiming he hit his head.
In video footage obtained by RadarOnline, Louis can be heard shouting "What the hell is happening?" and "Can we get some help?" before rushing over to help Eleanor, who was pushed into a corner by the two females.
Airport security then intervened and Louis and Eleanor walked away.
The ‘Just Hold On’ hitmaker was later arrested and booked for simple battery. He was originally released on $20.000 bail but won’t have to pay out unless he fails to attend court in Los Angeles on March 29.
His lawyer Martin Singer said: "The paparazzi provoked and caused the altercation that occurred with Louis. It’s not the first time that a paparazzi has created an altercation with a celebrity. While the altercation was going on with the paparazzi, three other individuals were attacking his girlfriend during this incident and he came to her defence."
Louis Tomlinson was ‘protecting his girlfriend’ at LAX airport
