Amanda Bynes brands shoplifting incident a misunderstanding
Troubled actress Amanda Bynes has branded an alleged shoplifting incident at a top Manhattan department store a "misunderstanding", insisting she was attempting to get away from an eager fan who was "harassing" her.
The Hairspray star was detained by security guards at Barneys New York on Wednesday afternoon (08Oct14) after she reportedly attempted to walk out without paying for a $200 hat she had placed on her head.
A New York Police Department spokesperson tells People magazine
that cops responded after "Bynes placed a hat on her head and left
the store. Security brought her back in and called the police, but
the security decided to release her... She was gone when the NYPD
arrived on the scene."
No charges were filed against Bynes, but she signed a no-trespass
affidavit, which bans her from entering Barneys in future.
The actress is now opening up about the incident, telling the
publication that the entire situation was just a result of her
attempting to get away from pushy fans and a miscommunication among
store employees.
She explains, "I was walking out of the store to get my handbag out
of the car. I had been harassed by a man - a man and this woman
were basically trying to take my picture inside the store, and so I
asked them to stop taking it, but they wouldn't...
"I walked out of the store, and the sensor went off. I didn't
realize I was wearing my cap. And the cap - I was purchasing it,
and I was actually still shopping."
The incident took place just two days after she was accused of
lashing out at a fan while partying at a nightclub in the city on
Monday (06Oct14). Reports suggest Bynes lost her temper after
realizing she was being photographed by curious revelers.