 Crowe apologised in August for his violent outburst |
Actor Russell Crowe has said his telephone throwing incident was blown out of proportion by the media. Crowe was given a one-year conditional discharge last week after admitting he threw a phone that hit a hotel concierge in New York in June.
The Oscar-winner said the court outcome had put things back into "perspective".
"Travelling businessmen get touchy or testy with hotel staff in every major city all around the world," Crowe told reporters in Australia.
'Lost temper'
He added: "That doesn't excuse the fact that I lost my temper... what I did was stupid. I admitted that straight away."
Crowe pleaded guilty to third-degree assault on 18 November.
A Manhattan criminal court sentenced the actor to a conditional discharge, which means he must not get arrested for one year.
Crowe added: "I got a $160 (�93) court cost fine for something that would have had more news print about it than some very horrific and specific things that we should know about in our community.
"That is what I mean by getting it into perspective."
Had Crowe been convicted of the more serious charges initially filed against him, assault and criminal possession of a weapon - in this case, the telephone - he could have lost his right to work in the US.
The charge carried a maximum prison term of seven years.
The New Zealand-born actor, 41, is best known for his starring role in the films Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind.
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