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Opera Diva Faces Jail in NY Cell Phone Tiff

Soprano shoved restaurant manager after complaints

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 23, 2009 5:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – An Argentine opera singer could face jail after a fight broke out in a New York restaurant over her cell phone screeching. Soprano Gabriela Pochinki, 41, and her daughter were shouting into a cell phone on speaker and refused to stop after fellow diners complained. Security camera footage shows the singer then pushing the manager. "She really shoved her," says a witness. Pochinki has been charged with trespassing.

Gabriela Pochinki was cited by the police at a restaurant near the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Gabriela Pochinki was cited by the police at a restaurant near the Metropolitan Opera in New York.   (©bastix.net)
The Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The Metropolitan Opera in New York.   (©dhackney)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
schmidtkoff
Oct 24, 2009 12:08 PM CDT
it is very annoying, like why would anyone be interested in overhearing someone's speaker phone conversation? it just screams "look at me i'm so important." very rude and inconsiderate.
njgreen
Oct 23, 2009 11:47 AM CDT
This kind of behavior is becoming more and more common and is certainly not confined to divas. It shows an insensitivity to other people bordering on criminal.
oldgoat
Oct 23, 2009 11:22 AM CDT
Why is it that these diva's think that they can do whatever they want and screw everybody else? If I was the manager I'd file to have her charged with assault.

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