Barmaid 'to drop Gooding charges'

A barmaid who claimed Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr pushed her does not plan to pursue criminal charges against him, her bosses at a New Orleans restaurant said.

Police issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday on a misdemeanour charge of municipal battery for 44-year-old Gooding.

Police say the barmaid at the century-old Old Absinthe House told them Gooding became upset after customers started asking him to pose for photos with them at about 3am.

She told investigators that Gooding pushed her after she asked him to calm down and again after she told him he should leave and that police had been called.

Gooding, who left the bar before police arrived, met New Orleans police yesterday and was issued with a court summons.

But in a statement, the French Quarter restaurant said its employee would not press the case.

“It is our understanding the employee involved in the alleged altercation has chosen to drop all charges against Mr Cuba Gooding Jr,” said Old Absinthe House spokeswoman Carolyn Pierce.

“While we continue to investigate this matter internally, we are hopeful that this will put an end to the matter.”

Ryan Berni, a city spokesman, said: “The witness indeed has indicated that she is likely to drop the charges. If she does, and after prosecutors review the evidence, a determination will be made as to whether to dismiss the charges.”

Mr Berni said Gooding’s court hearing was set for tomorrow. It was not immediately known whether he was required to appear.

Gooding’s publicist, Nancy Kane, said: “Mr Gooding, his representative and the New Orleans authorities...are moving swiftly to resolve this misunderstanding.”

New Orleans police spokeswoman Remi Braden said the arrest warrant was lifted after the summons was issued.

The city’s municipal court had not yet received documents regarding Gooding’s summons, but they were expected to be delivered by the end of the week. Once the summons is processed, the barmaid can officially drop the charges, a court employee said.

Gooding won the 1997 Academy Award for best supporting actor for his portrayal of a fictional pro football player in Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise. In the film, he utters the now-familiar line to his agent, “Show me the money!”.

He has been in New Orleans filming The Butler, a movie about a White House butler who serves eight American presidents. The film has a star-studded cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Liam Neeson, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Alex Pettyfer and Minka Kelly.