As an act of self defence, Oscar Award winner Gene Hackman reportedly slapped a homeless man as he physically threatened the actor’s wife outside a New Mexico restaurant.

E!Online reported that the man on the receiving end, Bruce Becker, approached the 82-year-old actor and his wife in an aggressive manner and made them fear for their safety.

And after getting a slap from Hackman, Becker called authorities to report that he had been beaten up by Gene Hackman.

But because the slap was an act of self defense, no charges have been filed for now, TMZ reported.

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Meanwhile, another celebrity who ran into trouble with homeless people, Justin Timberlake has already issued an apology for the “joke video” featuring the less fortunate that was reportedly shown at his wedding celebrations.

The video titled "Greetings from Your Hollywood Friends Who Just Couldn't Make It," showed several homeless individuals offering congratulatory messages to Timberlake and Jessica Biel, who recently got hitched in a lavish wedding in southern Italy.

 In an open letter, the Friends with Benefits star wrote: “I'd like to start off by saying that I don't live my life making fun of people... Especially, those who are less fortunate or those in need.

“As it pertains to this silly, unsavory video that was made as a joke and not in any way in mockery: I had no knowledge of its existence. I had absolutely ZERO contribution to it.

“My friends are good people. This was clearly a lapse in judgment which I'm sure no one who is reading this is exempt from. But, I don't believe it was made to be insensitive. More so, I think it was made as a joke on me not having that many friends attending my own wedding (which IS kind of funny if you think about it).”