Ozark star Laura Linney watches in horror after a NYFW event when a crazed fan punches his assistant in the head after being denied an autograph

• Onlookers screamed in horror as the attack occurred outside the Pierre Hotel on the Upper East Side
• Fans milled around the Ozark star as she waited on the sidewalk with little protection
• The star was enjoying a New York Fashion Week highlight alongside Janet Jackson, Alicia Silverstone and Sarah Hyland

Horrified onlookers saw a crazed fan of Ozark star Laura Linney punch her young assistant in the head as she walked out of a show at New York Fashion Week.

The actress enjoyed a front row seat at Christian Siriano’s fashion show alongside Janet Jackson and Alicia Silverstone at the Pierre Hotel on the Upper East Side.

But things got worse when she waited outside in the crowd afterwards for a car to pick her up.

One die-hard fan carrying an autograph book tried to push her assistant, and reacted angrily when he couldn’t reach the star, punching him in the back of the head before running after him.

‘Oh, my God!’ An onlooker exclaimed, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The moment was captured by TikToker mickmicknyc who captioned it, “Why do celebrities need bodyguards!”

The four-time Emmy winner actually looked nervous as she exited the show and looked anxiously up and down the street.

One of them assured her: “It’s kind of a mess in here, don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”

He then sees the crazy fan approaching from behind and pokes her in the back with his pen, prompting the assistant to say “Hey hey!”. No, don’t.’

“Don’t touch me,” the man replies, before attacking the spartan assistant.

‘Are you well?’ the Big C rep asks as she puts her hand on his shoulder and the attacker runs back towards the hotel.

“Well, I’m fine,” he assured her and smiled as he escorted her to the car, which had now arrived.

The 59-year-old actress looked happy and relaxed while attending the 50th Telluride Film Festival alongside Dakota Johnson in Telluride, Colorado, earlier this month.

Last year, she said she was “quietly stunned” when she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“Having my name and shielding it with a star on this famous stretch of pavement is beyond my wildest dreams,” she added.

But the event was also disrupted by shouts from a spectator on nearby Hollywood Boulevard, prompting the star to repeatedly stop her acceptance speech and inquire about his health.

“We live in a difficult world these days, and things like this are all over the place,” she said.

“If this is Laura Linney’s day, I hope we can all keep a little compassion in our hearts and educate ourselves about the needs of others, mental illness, addiction, and all that is put before us.”

“I’ve never met anyone, really, in business or life who elevates the people around her more than Laura does,” Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy said.

“With generosity and dedication, but most importantly with friendships. Everyone’s life is better with Laura in it.”

“I know people who use it as a compass for the right way to act, and for it to be so for such a diverse group of people is exceptional,” he added.

Earlier this year, the three-time Oscar nominee appeared in the Hulu documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, in which she recounted her childhood friendship with the Blue Lagoon actress.

Leni recounted several instances in which she and Brooke would play alone at home, when Shields’ mother, Terry, would come home drunk.

She said Brock was always springing into action and knew how to avoid conflict.

“I will follow her,” Lenny said, “she will know what to do, how to do it, how to protect herself, what room to go into, what doors to close.”

“We’d hear the keys jingle, we’d go into the room, make sure we were safe, and Terry would come home very drunk and wait for it to calm down and then walk out.”

Lenny said she understood the complicated situation Brooke found herself in, as she was afraid of who her mother was but loved her all the time.

“You want to protect the people you love even if they are deeply flawed, hurt and devastated,” said Lenny.

The attack on her assistant has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, and many viewers were horrified by the celebrity’s vulnerability at the event.

“I’ve seen this guy so many times. My office is across from the Rock Center and he’s always waiting for the celebrities to come out of the Today Show,” Lauren Chavez wrote.

“This guy is a red flag for a long time!!” Lauren wrote.

“It showed the police that they should be charged with assault.”

Another added, “At this point bodyguards need bodyguards to protect them from such a person.”

The NYPD said it had not received any report of the incident.