Moment Tom Daley’s husband 'twists' woman's arm in front of Love Island star
The moment when Tom Daley's husband, Dustin Lance Black, allegedly "twisted" a woman's arm in front of her then-Love Island partner has been revealed after the case was dismissed.
The Oscar-winning film writer was charged with assaulting Teddy Edwardes by beating on 18 August last year following a nightclub dispute with the Internet personality. He was granted unconditional bail after pleading not guilty to the charge, before a trial was set for 8 August.
Footage of the argument, which took place at the swanky Freedom nightclub in Soho, London, has now been released. In the short clip, both Edwardes, 33, and Black, 49, appear to be arguing in front of Olympic diver Daley and Love Island star Amber Gill.
At one point, Daley appears to try to calm down the Milk screenwriter as Amber steps between him and her then-partner. Black then moves his hand towards Edwardes, who drops the drink she is holding.
Black immediately exits the club as Daley raises his hands in apparent distress and Amber covers her mouth with her hand. Shortly after the video ends, Edwardes punched the Rustin producer in the back of the head, for which she received a police caution.
Love Island's Haris spills on unaired row between Zara and TanyelBlack, who has two children with 29-year-old Daley, was brought before court for allegedly twisting the event planner's wrist "very hard." Edwardes claimed that the argument started when she asked security to remove another man from the area.
She stated in her evidence that Black began "shouting" in her face after the request, prompting those around him, including Tom, to try to calm him down.
"Lance grabbed my left wrist," she claimed. "I had a drink in my hand. He grabbed my wrist and twisted it round so my drink would go all over. He was inches from me." She also called the alleged grabbing "very hard" and "really aggressive."
However, Black's defence lawyer suggested that Edwardes had significantly downplayed her own aggression. Social media posts shared by the social media personality after the incident were examined in court, which seemed to show her minimizing the conflict.
Judge Joanna Cieciora dismissed the case on Wednesday, after criticizing the "inconsistencies and weaknesses" in Edwardes' evidence. She also instructed the Crown to contribute towards Black's legal expenses, the exact amount of which has not been disclosed.
Black, who hails from the US and won an Oscar for his 2008 film Milk, teared up before hugging husband Daley in reaction to the verdict.
"I am pleased that the judge saw the truth today and ruled in my favour," he said in a statement. "As the evidence has proven, and I have always maintained, I am completely innocent, and in fact was the victim in this case of a serious assault. I am relieved this unfortunate matter is now over."