According to new reports, Australian-born Heath Ledger shirked the Sydney premier of Candy, the first Australian film he’s done in four years, due to a paparazzi grudge.  Earlier reports stated the Brokeback actor was staying at home to watch baby Matilda due to girlfriend Michelle Williams‘ absence. 

Apparently the real reason why Ledger did not want to attend the Australian premier goes back to an incident in January.  Heath was squirted, Tom Cruise-style, by water pistols carried by members of the paparazzi at his Brokeback Mountain premier.

Candy producer Margaret Fink explained the actor’s nonattendance by saying, “I know Heath would want to be here, but he was put off by those jerks behaving so appallingly at the Brokeback Mountain premiere.

“Why would he want to come out here when people behave like that towards him? He was quite rightly infuriated.”

What a goof, that Heath Ledger.  I love a good confrontation.  Why snub the Candy premier when you can play with the paparazzi.  I’m no Tom Cruise lover but I did like the way he handled that whole War of the Worlds water gun thing in London:

“Why would you do that?  Do you like thinking less of people, is that it?  Don’t run away. That’s incredibly rude. I’m here giving you an interview and you do that … it’s incredibly rude.  You’re a jerk.”

One shining moment for the Cruise, I have to give him that one.

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