Little Mix star Perrie Edwards defends One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson following his arrest on a battery charge over airport brawl
PERRIE Edwards has spoken out in defence of Louis Tomlinson following his arrest in Los Angeles, calling him "such a nice guy".
The Little Mix singer has backed the One Direction star after he was held by cops on a battery charge over an airport brawl.
Louis has been accused of attacking a female fan and photographer in a ferocious bust-up at LAX airport.
Stars including Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan, and Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, who urged Louis to employ a bodyguard.
Little Mix beauty Perrie, who was engaged to Louis' bandmate Zayn Malik, has become the latest big name to speak out in support.
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During an interview with a Canadian TV show called etalk, Perrie called Louis "such a nice guy".
She said: "It's a hard situation because you don't know how you would act unless you're in that situation, but Louis is such a nice guy.
"When you watch the video, all he's doing is protecting his girlfriend like any normal guy would...
"But because he's in what was one of the biggest bands in the world people are just going to be constantly on him, which I think is unfair for him and Eleanor."
Perrie's Little Mix bandmate Jesy Nelson, 25, also came out in defence of Louis, adding: "I just think that sometimes people can forget that you're a human being.
"Like, they get so caught up in the fact that they see you on TV and it's not real life to them."
Our exclusive pictures of the fight — taken from a 55-second video of the incident — show Louis steaming into a brawl involving his girlfriend Eleanor Calder.
But pals say Eleanor, 24, was being attacked by three girls when Louis bolted over to help.
Louis had earlier knocked photographer Karl Larssen to the ground after touching down in LA with Eleanor on Friday night.
Footage shows him grappling with the lensman and trying to wrench his camera off him before both end up in a heap on the floor of baggage reclaim as startled travellers look on.
Tracksuited Louis, whose mum Johannah Poulston died aged 43 in December, was arrested on suspicion of battery and booked into an LA jail before being released to appear in court on March 29.
His ex-girlfriend, Briana Jungwirth, 23, the father of his son Freddie, has since told The Sun that the singer is striuggling to cope following the loss of his mum.