news.com.au June 24, 2011 10:59AM
Moments before 'that' kiss: See the moments leading up to the infamous Vancouver riot kiss in explosive new vision. Perth Now24 June 2011
YouTube clip proves riot kiss was real
- Followed rumours kiss was staged
- Aussie says police beat him before kiss
- Couple reject offers for millions
A VIDEO of the Vancouver kiss couple has emerged on YouTube showing the pair in a passionate embrace, proving the now famous moment in the midst of a riot was real.
The video reveals that the kiss between the pair was not staged, as some media have suggested. since a picture of the moment went viral earlier this month.
Lying in the middle of a downtown street in Vancouver amid the fracas, fires and looting was Canadian Alex Thomas and her Australian boyfriend Scott Jones who were flanked by police with shields and batons battling a riot following Vancouver's hockey championship loss last week.
The footage shows police in riot gear storm over the top of the couple after they became caught up in the fracas.
Related Coverage
- 'Kissing couple' hope to earn millions The Australian, 19 hours ago
- Riot kiss 'seemed like the best thing to do' Perth Now, 3 days ago
- 'They started beating us with shields' The Daily Telegraph, 3 days ago
- 'They started beating us with shields' Perth Now, 4 days ago
- 'They started beating us with shields' NEWS.com.au, 4 days ago
In the video Mr Jones comforts a clearly distressed Ms Thomas after she is knocked to the ground by the police, before kissing her in the moment that is now being compared to that of the sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square at the end of World War Two that was captured in a photo.
The striking image of the couple's kiss, taken by Getty photographer Rich Lam, has been splashed around the world and sparked debate as to whether it was real or staged.
But Mr Jones' father Brett Jones told Canadian broadcaster CBC the pictures were real and that he recognised his son in the picture circulated around the world over the Internet, and in newspapers.
In an interview from his home in Perth, he said Scott, an aspiring stand-up comedian, was attempting to console Alex after she had been knocked down by police officers.
They were caught in the violence after leaving the hockey arena where the NHL's Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 to win the Stanley Cup.
"They were between the riot police and the rioters, and the riot police were actually charging forward, and Alex got knocked by a (police) shield and fell to the ground," he told CBC.
The loved-up pair has turned down several offers for interviews since the kiss made them worldwide celebrities.
Reconsidering millions in offers
However, after reportedly tuning down multi-million dollar offers the couple are now reportedly reconsidering the decision to kiss goodbye the financial benefits of their newfound global stardom.
Mr Jones previously said that he did not want the "extra stress" of media appointments after he and his Canadian girlfriend, Ms Thomas, were inundated with offers to describe the events that led to their public clinch.
But leading Australian celebrity agent Max Markson confirmed that the pair subsequently hired his Markson Sparks PR firm to explore the potential for earnings, with Mr Jones keen on a career in entertainment.
"I think for Scott, it's a tremendous opportunity for him to springboard his acting and standup comedy," Mr Markson told the Toronto Star. "Overseas people know more about that photo than the Stanley Cup."
Mr Markson said he was handling requests for interviews, endorsements and job opportunities while the couple concentrated on "unwinding" on holiday in California before heading to Melbourne, Australia.
The agent said that he would "love to get them on Jay Leno or Ellen and confirmed that he arranged for them to attend a lunch with former British prime minister Tony Blair in Australia at the end of July.
Mr Markson also recently said that the couple's global exposure could be worth a potential $10 million.
