Five paparazzi photographers whom Heath Ledger allegedly spat at have retaliated at the Sydney premiere of his new movie - shooting the actor with water pistols.
As Ledger arrived with partner Michelle Williams at Cinema Paris at Fox Studios on Friday night, the photographers took aim at the Hollywood heart-throb with the toys.
They hit him in the face and chest, wetting his hair and clothing, in an action taking some 10 seconds.
Ledger put his hands up to protect himself and tried to shield his partner, who was also hit by the water, as they moved quickly inside the cinema complex.
Upon seeing the incident, security guards moved towards the paparazzi but the five had left the scene.
Veteran paparazzi photographer Peter Carrette, who was not (not) involved in the incident, told AAP: "Enough is enough.
"Some boys thought they would get him back for spitting at them. It's (spitting) totally out of order.
"I came here to do my job but if anyone spat at me I would deck them.
"We are just doing our job. He gets $250,000 a picture (a movie) and we get $250 a picture. Who the hell does he think he is?"
Last week, Ledger said he was hurt and embarrassed by claims he had spat at journalists on the Sydney set of the movie Candy last year and by a recent report that said his uncle spat in a photographer's face.
"It's disgusting and awful. I would never in a million years do anything like that," Ledger told News Ltd newspapers.
"I'm not some sort of dirty spitter."
To the premiere, Ledger wore a hooded jumper under a black suit jacket, his outfit completed with sunglasses and sneakers, while Williams wore a navy Chanel dress.
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