CMT News

Tim McGraw downplayed the incident in which he helped eject an unruly fan from his concert. Out walking with wife Faith Hill and their daughters in Los Angeles, McGraw told photographers who approached him and asked about the melee that it was no big deal. "I was just trying to keep peace," he said. When asked if he were "doing a better job than security," McGraw replied, "They just couldn't get there in time."

McGraw helped members of his stage crew eject a fan from his June 24 concert in Auburn, Wash., after seeing the man assault a woman who was in one of the front rows. A video of the incident later surfaced at several Internet sites.

McGraw was performing his 1994 hit, "Indian Outlaw," when he stopped singing and yelled, "Get rid of this guy! Security!" At that point, McGraw knelt down and began pulling the man onstage. Members of his stage crew showed up immediately to assist McGraw.

In a prepared statement the following day, McGraw's Nashville-based publicist, Jessie Schmidt said, "While Tim was performing at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Wash., last night, he watched a man rush to the front of the stage. This overly aggressive fan attacked a female fan, and Tim witnessed this incident. Tim called for security, but when they could not respond quick enough, Tim and several crew members removed the fan from the audience where he was then turned over to the local authorities."

The ejected fan was identified as Marcus Nirschl, 30, a union glazer from Kent, Wash. He later told CMT.com that he had been "making my way up to my seat because I wanted to be up there when he started 'Indian Outlaw.' I was getting shoved up against some empty seats, and I may have pushed some people when I was trying to get my balance. But I didn't grab nobody's hair, and I didn't hit nobody. I'm the nicest guy you'll ever meet." Other fans in the audience later disputed his report.