Leona Lewis slapped at book signing

Reuters

SLAPPED: Singer Leona Lewis was slapped during a book signing in London.

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A young man punched singer Leona Lewis in the head as she signed autographs and posed for photographs at a book signing session in central London on Wednesday, her spokesman said.

Stuart Bell said Lewis, 24, had been meeting members of the public at Waterstone's book store in Piccadilly in central London for about 90 minutes when a man from the line came up and hit her. He was immediately led away by security guards and later arrested by police.

Bell said Lewis, who was launching her new autobiography Dreams, was shaken up by the incident and went to see a doctor as a precaution.

Lewis shot to fame after winning the X Factor reality show in 2006, and her powerful voice has led to comparisons with Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston

London's Metropolitan police said a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and is being held in custody.

- AP