Pistorius Partying? Reports of Alcohol and Flirting With Women Spark Outrage
Olympian Oscar Pistorius is once again the subject of criticism after he was spotted at a local Johannesburg pub consuming alcohol and allegedly flirting with women.
The athlete's publicist Anneliese Burgess reportedly said Pistorius was forced to leave the establishment after some customers recognized Pistorius and the "public interest became overwhelming."
"The place went quiet when people realized it was Oscar and (the mood) never really recovered from there," one venue manager told The Sunday Times. It added that he was also "being flirtatious" with other women.
"He has been out of the house with family, but this was the first time he went out to a restaurant with people other than close family," Burgess said in a statement.
"It is regrettable that what was supposed to be a low-key evening reconnecting with friends is now being blown out of proportion for sensational reasons," she added.
Pistorius was charged with murdering his girlfriend at his home in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius came to fame at the 2012 Olympics when he won three medals in the Paralympic Games in London.
Reeva Steenkamp was allegedly planning a Valentine's Day surprise and mistakenly shot by Pistorius when she entered his home, according to CNN. In South Africa, many residents own guns in order to defend themselves against intruders; in this case, though, Steenkamp could have been an innocent victim.
Steenkamp, a former FHM model, was shot in the head, chest and arm, Daily Mail reported. She and Pistorius had been dating for two months and in that time had dealt with police and a "domestic situation" that occurred at Pistorius' home. Her death, though, is believed to be nothing more than a tragic accident.
"Oscar is a humble person and a lovely guy – I'm sure what's happened has been a terrible mistake but I really don't have the details at the moment," his agent, Peet van Zyl, told Daily Mail in February. "I hope I can have access to him at the police station."