James McAvoy was struck by a stranger at a Toronto bar late Monday night during the Toronto International Film Festival while celebrating the premiere of his directorial debut, people and eyewitnesses said.
The 46-year-old actor was in Charlotte’s Room around 11:55 p.m. on Sept. 8 when an intoxicated patron walked up behind him and delivered a single punch, according to eyewitness accounts. McAvoy was not injured and immediately tried to de-escalate the situation as other patrons and staff intervened to remove the man from the establishment.
People who were with McAvoy said he had been celebrating the debut of California Schemin', which premiered at TIFF on Sept. 6. Bar staff told those at the table that employees had earlier asked the intoxicated man to leave, according to the accounts. After the altercation, McAvoy remained at the bar, laughed about the incident with other patrons and continued his evening, witnesses said.
McAvoy’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Media reports and eyewitness statements provided the details of the incident to news outlets.
California Schemin' is a musical biographical film based on the true story of the Scottish hip-hop duo Silibil N’ Brains, who posed as Americans in hopes of breaking into the music industry. McAvoy directed the film and has a small acting role in it; Séamus McLean Ross and Samuel Bottomley star as Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, respectively. Other cast members include Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.
In interviews at TIFF, McAvoy described directing as “stressful” but “amazing,” saying it was the most creative work he had done and that his years as an actor helped him in the director’s chair. He told People he wanted performers to be “bare, open, vulnerable,” and that he aimed to create the space for that to happen rather than prescribe it.
The incident drew swift attention given McAvoy’s profile as a longtime screen actor known for roles in films such as Glass and Split and for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series. Festival nights often bring crowded after-parties and late-night events, and venues have increasingly faced scrutiny over security and patron behavior as high-profile attendees gather in public spaces.
Organizers at the Toronto International Film Festival did not issue an immediate statement. The festival ran a program of premieres and screenings that included McAvoy’s film earlier in the weekend.
No arrests or further police action were reported publicly in the immediate aftermath, and there were no reports of injuries to other patrons. McAvoy returned to festival duties following the incident and continued to promote California Schemin' at TIFF events.