After battling thyroid and salivary gland cancer, beloved
Chicago Sun-Times film critic
Roger Ebert is unable to talk. So during a Toronto Film Festival press screening of
Slumdog Millionaire, he tapped on the shoulder of the person in front of him to indicate that he couldn't see.
However, as the
New York Daily News' Rush & Malloy column reports, instead of moving, the
New York Post's film critic
Lou Lumenick reportedly yelled, "Don't touch me!" followed by another warning of, "I said don't touch me!" before turning around and hitting Roger with his film binder.
Others in the fully packed theater, there to see the film by Trainspotting's Danny Boyle, were shocked at the loud sound the binder made as it connected with Roger, the
Daily News reports.
"He hit him so hard everybody could hear it," says a source. "Everyone freaked out and turned around."
Roger was apparently unharmed and, according to the
Daily News, even gave the film two thumbs up on his way out.