Press controversies -Heath Andrew Ledger

Press controversies -Heath Andrew Ledger
Ledger had a turbulent relationship with paparazzi photographers but strongly denied allegations that he spat at and assaulted a photographer in Sydney in 2004. On January 13, 2006, several photographers retaliated for the alleged incident, squirting Ledger and Michelle Williams with water pistols as they walked the red carpet for the Sydney premiere of Brokeback Mountain.
Ledger was also subject to criticism in the press following his performance on stage at the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Ledger was seen giggling when presenting Brokeback Mountain as a nominee for Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The Los Angeles Times described his behaviour as "some kind of gay spoof." Ledger later called the Times to explain that his actions were the result of stage fright, saying that he was only told he would be presenting the award minutes beforehand. "I am so sorry and I apologise for my nervousness," Ledger told the newspaper.
Ledger came under fire after he was quoted in January 2006 in Melbourne's Herald Sun as saying that he heard that West Virginia had banned Brokeback Mountain, which it had not. (A cinema in Utah had banned the film). He also referred to West Virginia as having had lynchings as recently as the 1980s which was disputed by archivists and historians, who say that the last extralegal public hanging in the state occurred in 1931.