Sam Worthington has been arrested for punching a photographer.

The Avatar actor is said to have rushed to his girlfriend Lara Bingle's defense when she was allegedly kicked in the shin by a paparazzo as the couple were leaving Cubbyhole bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. Sam was charged with assault and released on bail for reportedly punching the camera-wielding snapper in the face, and has been set a court date for February 26, the NYPD told TMZ.com.

The photographer, named Sheng Li, was arrested and booked for reckless endangerment, assault and harassment. During the scuffle, the Australian hunk is said to have referred to model Lara as his "wife," shouting at the photographer, "you kicked my wife."

However, a source told the MailOnline, "He would have been speaking figuratively. They are definitely not married, as far as I know." The couple were rumored to have tied the knot during a secret ceremony in Western Australia earlier this year and have been spotted wearing matching rings.