Actor Emile Hirsch could be in serious trouble after allegedly assaulting Paramount exec Dani Bernfeld at Tao Nightclub at the Sundance Film Festival around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
Sources exclusively tell Page Six that Hirsch, star of Sundance film “Ten Thousand Saints,” appeared inebriated at the nightclub, where he aggressively attacked rising-star exec Bernfeld, 31.
“Emile was aggressively picking on Dani,” said a source, who added that Hirsch then suddenly snapped and “He got even more aggressive and aggro. He pushed Dani up against a table, and then he put her in a headlock.”
Another source familiar with the incident called Hirsch’s alleged attack a “chokehold,” and added, “He attacked her from behind — he completely blindsided her after he’d been s - - t-talking and was already led away from her once.”
Park City police confirmed to Page Six they are investigating the incident, and said a county sheriff would decide if charges will be filed.
Bernfeld is VP at Paramount Digital Entertainment as well as the studio’s Insurge Pictures label. She was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s prestigious “Next Gen” list of top entertainment professionals 35 and under for 2014, and has worked on projects with stars and producers including Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Banks and Russell Simmons.
Page Six exclusively reported that Hirsch, 29 — best known for starring in Sean Penn’s 2007 film “Into the Wild” — wasn’t arrested when cops were called to Tao after the alleged incident and that he “calmly waited for the police to arrive, and spoke with them until around 5 a.m.” His movie premiered at the festival on Friday, and a source who’s worked with him told us, “I can’t imagine he’d be involved in anything like this.”
Tao’s been a popular late-night destination for stars during Sundance, including Keanu Reeves, Chris Pine, James Marsden and Zoë Kravitz.
A Paramount rep had no comment. Hirsch’s reps didn’t return requests for comment, and Park City police declined to comment further due to the “active investigation.”