This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Actor Emile Hirsch has been charged with felony assault after he attacked a woman during the Sundance Film Festival last month.Police responded to a 911 call just before 4 a.m. on January 25, at the Tao Nightclub in Park City, Utah, for an alleged assault. According to the police report, "Hirsch appeared intoxicated" and asked a woman "why she looked 'so tough' and said she was a 'rich kid' who should not be at Sundance." The woman, Paramount executive Dani Bernfeld according to TMZ, walked away to sit with a friend, which is when Hirsch came up from behind and put her in a chokehold, and dragged her across the table and onto the floor.
Bernfeld told police she blacked out as Hirsch was on top of her wrapped his hands around her neck. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, a witness recalled hearing Bernfeld say, "The front of my throat hit the back of my throat... I couldn't breathe."
When police arrived and talked to Hirsch he told them was in a "verbal confrontation" with Bernfeld and that he had three or four drinks. The police noted that Hirsch was clearly drunk, and that Bernfeld had red marks on her neck and upper chest.
Dani Bernfeld is a vice president at Paramount Pictures in charge of their digital division. She was named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of Hollywood's top executives under 35.
