Actor Russell Crowe, 41, who won an Oscar for his role in 2000's "Gladiator", and who plays a boxer in his latest film, "Cinderella Man," allegedly threw the phone at the concierge at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo, "hitting him in the face and causing a laceration and substantial pain," according to the complaint, which resulted in his being arrested and charged Monday.

Yet Crowe’s publicist said the it was as a result of a faulty telephone in the actor’s room and getting only attitude from the clerk on duty that “words were exchanged and Crowe wound up throwing the phone against the wall. He regrets that he lost his temper, but at no time did he assault anyone or touch any hotel employee."