A party crasher was arrested at Park City’s High West Saloon on Friday during CAA‘s Sundance Film Festival celebration.
A source at the talent agency’s party said the man, who is caucasian, was involved in a racially charged incident that took place at the eatery’s restroom. He apparently shocked other people in the bathroom by talking about how proud he was to be “white.” He then allegedly punched a person of color in the face after he left the facilities. Security detained the man, who has not been identified, and police later took him into custody. Although the incident was described as “disturbing,” some guests were apparently unaware of what had transpired.
A spokesperson for CAA declined to comment, and a spokesperson for the Park City Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The source tells Variety that the man was not on any guest list and is believed to have snuck into the gathering. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for information about whether or not the man had been released from jail.
CAA is a major presence at Sundance, both because many of its clients’ projects premiere at the festival and because it is enlisted to help find distribution for some of the indie films that debut in Park City.
This year’s Sundance is the last one to be held at Park City. It will move to Colorado in 2027. Though the festival is a celebration of independent film, it is also the setting of wild premieres and house parties, some of which have led to police actions in the past.
