KEITH Urban rushed to the defence of his Oscar winning wife Nicole Kidman after an opera fan allegedly ‘swatted her with a programme’.
Nicole, 53, was enjoying one of her first nights out after completing mandatory quarantine in Australia with her country singer husband, Keith, 53 and her mum, Janelle.
The trio decided to take in the critically acclaimed Opera Australia production of Merry Widow at Sydney’s world famous Opera House.
They clearly loved the performance because at its finale Keith jumped to his feet for a standing ovation and was soon joined by Nicole.
Many in the crowd also jumped to their feet, except for one man sitting behind the famous couple.
He apparently got annoyed with the couple’s enthusiasm and ordered them to sit back down, according to Sydney Morning Herald’s Sydney Private column.
When Keith refused because he wanted to celebrate the performers, the grumpy opera fan then swatted Nicole with his program.
Keith accused him of assaulting Nicole and called over their bodyguards to take Nicole and her mum out of the venue.
Opera House security soon intervened and the police summoned, after Nicole looked shaken.
“Police have been told a 53-year-old man and a 67-year-old man were both attending the entertainment centre when an argument broke out. Officers spoke to both men and no further action was taken,” NSW Police said in a statement.
Nicole and Keith remained at the venue and gracefully agreed to greet the performers backstage after the performance.
Opera Australia boss Lyndon Terracini took the couple through to the stage door where they posed for a photo with tenor Virgilio Marino.
The Sun reached out to Nicole and Keith’s representatives for comment, but had not heard back at the time of publication.
Nicole had probably hoped for a more fun night out after recently completing mandatory quarantine, after returning from a trip to Ireland to film Robert Eggers’ Viking film, The Northman, with Alexander Skarsgård and Ethan Hawke.
The Aussie actress was given permission to quarantine at her sprawling 45 hectare property about 68 miles south-west of Sydney.
The New South Wales state government allowed the Hollywood star to quarantine at the £3.6mil property, rather than in a state approved hotel, which is the requirement for all travellers entering Australia to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The beautiful property features estate traditional sandstone verandahs, a grand carved cedar staircase and 10 original marble fireplaces.
Her beloved estate almost came under threat of the ferocious Aussie bushfires in 2020.
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The home of the Hollywood star was among those being threatened by the fires, which killed dozens of people and scorched some tens of thousands of square miles.
Speaking to Aussie station 10 News First ahead of the 2020 Golden Globes ceremony, Kidman said: “We’re devastated.
“We’re devastated for Australia right now. I’m so…”
The actress then tailed off, sounding on the brink of tears over the carnage unfolding in her home country.