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Perth man's kiss had world guessing
Riot police charge as a couple kiss in the streets during Vancouver's hockey riot.
The man photographed kissing his girlfriend in the middle of riots in Vancouver, Canada, this week is from Perth, trying to make it big as a stand-up comedian.
Former Aquinas College student Scott Jones has become an internet sensation with a smooch that has been dubbed by the world's media as "love among the ruins".
Freelance photographer Richard Lam snapped Mr Jones locked in a passionate embrace with Canadian Alexandra Thomas, lying on a road seemingly oblivious of the chaos around him.
Riot police fired tear gas, shops were looted and cars burnt after the Vancouver Canucks lost an ice hockey final to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
Debate has raged online as to whether the photograph was staged, whether the woman was a willing participant or whether it was a romantic moment amidst the chaos.
The Weekend West tracked down Mr Jones and briefly spoke to him yesterday.
He said the media attention was "pretty amazing" and "surreal" but confirmed it was not "love in the ruins".
He said his girlfriend had been knocked down in the riot.
"I was just trying to calm her down," Mr Jones said. "I can't speak to you now, I've got to go."
He has hired celebrity manager Harry M. Miller to handle media inquiries.
Mr Jones' father Brett said he was proud of his son for looking out for his girlfriend during the riot.
"Alex was actually knocked over by the police, she fell to the ground and Scott jumped down and he was just holding her in his arms. He just gave her a kiss basically to say 'it's all OK, I'm here' and the photographer just took a shot at the right moment," Brett Jones said.
"Scott is full of life, he loves travelling, he's a bit of a romantic, he's definitely a gentleman."
Photojournalist Lam told the Guardian newspaper he thought that Ms Thomas had been hurt.
"It was complete chaos," he said.
"Rioters set two cars on fire and then I saw looters break the window at a neighbouring department store.
"At that point, the riot police charged right towards us.
"After I stopped running, I noticed in the space behind the line of police that two people were lying in the street with the riot police and a raging fire just beyond them.
"I knew I had captured a 'moment' when I snapped the still forms against the backdrop of such chaos. Everyone has been asking who they are."
Another photograph of the scene, taken from above and posted on Twitter, shows the couple surrounded by a group of men.
William, a witness, told the Vancouver Sun the couple were run over by two riot police officers.
"The girl who was knocked over landed head first on the pavement while her boyfriend landed partially on top of her," he said.
"She was in visible pain, crying, but the two officers gave them a parting shove and moved on.
"Bystanders went to make sure she was OK."
According to one news website, Mr Jones' friend put postings on his Facebook page: "Scotty, do you realise how massive this is?"
Another wrote: "You keep getting played on the news. You're famous!"
The photograph has been compared with other classic kisses, such as a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square in New York at the end of World War II in 1945.
Perth man's kiss had world guessing - The West Australian
Riot police charge as a couple kiss in the streets during Vancouver's hockey riot.
The man photographed kissing his girlfriend in the middle of riots in Vancouver, Canada, this week is from Perth, trying to make it big as a stand-up comedian.
Former Aquinas College student Scott Jones has become an internet sensation with a smooch that has been dubbed by the world's media as "love among the ruins".
Freelance photographer Richard Lam snapped Mr Jones locked in a passionate embrace with Canadian Alexandra Thomas, lying on a road seemingly oblivious of the chaos around him.
Riot police fired tear gas, shops were looted and cars burnt after the Vancouver Canucks lost an ice hockey final to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
Debate has raged online as to whether the photograph was staged, whether the woman was a willing participant or whether it was a romantic moment amidst the chaos.
The Weekend West tracked down Mr Jones and briefly spoke to him yesterday.
He said the media attention was "pretty amazing" and "surreal" but confirmed it was not "love in the ruins".
He said his girlfriend had been knocked down in the riot.
"I was just trying to calm her down," Mr Jones said. "I can't speak to you now, I've got to go."
He has hired celebrity manager Harry M. Miller to handle media inquiries.
Mr Jones' father Brett said he was proud of his son for looking out for his girlfriend during the riot.
"Alex was actually knocked over by the police, she fell to the ground and Scott jumped down and he was just holding her in his arms. He just gave her a kiss basically to say 'it's all OK, I'm here' and the photographer just took a shot at the right moment," Brett Jones said.
"Scott is full of life, he loves travelling, he's a bit of a romantic, he's definitely a gentleman."
Photojournalist Lam told the Guardian newspaper he thought that Ms Thomas had been hurt.
"It was complete chaos," he said.
"Rioters set two cars on fire and then I saw looters break the window at a neighbouring department store.
"At that point, the riot police charged right towards us.
"After I stopped running, I noticed in the space behind the line of police that two people were lying in the street with the riot police and a raging fire just beyond them.
"I knew I had captured a 'moment' when I snapped the still forms against the backdrop of such chaos. Everyone has been asking who they are."
Another photograph of the scene, taken from above and posted on Twitter, shows the couple surrounded by a group of men.
William, a witness, told the Vancouver Sun the couple were run over by two riot police officers.
"The girl who was knocked over landed head first on the pavement while her boyfriend landed partially on top of her," he said.
"She was in visible pain, crying, but the two officers gave them a parting shove and moved on.
"Bystanders went to make sure she was OK."
According to one news website, Mr Jones' friend put postings on his Facebook page: "Scotty, do you realise how massive this is?"
Another wrote: "You keep getting played on the news. You're famous!"
The photograph has been compared with other classic kisses, such as a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square in New York at the end of World War II in 1945.
Perth man's kiss had world guessing - The West Australian
i did not mean that he had medicine in his pocket what i was trying to say that physical pain need treatment unlike u who said kiss is treatment of physical and emotional pain..its like if someone get accident you start kissing her to make her calm down instead of giving her medical aid..
