The street performer who took a swipe at an annoying man has told Nine News he's sorry. Vision Nine News/Richard Choeun/youtube
AN official investigation has been launched into a Surfers Paradise busker who became an internet sensation after punching a drunken street pest in the mouth.
Human statue David Mulder made world headlines after punching the passerby who was taunting him in Cavill Mall.
After being poked, prodded and having a saliva-soaked finger stuck in his ear, Mr Mulder - a 50-year-old devout churchgoer - snapped and hit the young agitator who was left bleeding in front of stunned onlookers.
A mobile phone video of the incident, posted to YouTube by a Brisbane university student, went viral and Mr Mulder was swamped with international media attention.
Despite widespread public support, Mr Mulder has apologised for his actions and vowed to keep his cool from now on.
But the Surfers Alliance, which hires street performers, said it was investigating.
"While I sympathise with the busker, it's clear both parties didn't behave as best they could. Harassment and assault are not welcome in Surfers Paradise,'' Alliance chair Laura Younger said.
"We will be investigating the situation this week.
Mr Mulder's wife, Andrea, said her husband planned to meet with Alliance officials today to tell them his retaliation was a one-off.
"He will tell them that this sort of behaviour is extremely rare and is not something he'd like to repeat,'' she said, speaking on behalf of her husband who was back working in Cavill Mall yesterday.
"He's been hassled before but doesn't normally come out swinging - it takes a lot to provoke him.
"It happened in a split second - it was like 'get out of my space'. He didn't even think he was going to punch the guy but it just happened.
"Dave certainly doesn't condone his actions and isn't proud of them.
"He'd like to apologise to the young fellow he punched too - and maybe have him apologise to Dave - but he's probably feeling a bit sheepish.''
Mrs Mulder said she normally kept a close eye on her husband while he was performing to ensure he was not harassed.
She said it would be impractical to hire security guards to protect buskers but police were usually close by and Cavill Mall was also monitored by surveillance cameras.
Mrs Mulder said her husband was receiving 'overwhelming' public support back out on the street.
"He's had comments like 'don't mess with the statue','' she said.
Surfers Paradise Alliance boss Mike Winlaw could not be contacted for comment.
Earlier, it was reported that the video of Mr Mulder punching the heckler in the face had gone viral and racked up more than 400,000 views in a matter of hours.
In the 35-second YouTube video,Mr Mulder is shown doing his routine on Surfers Paradise shopping strip Cavill Ave, before being taunted by a male passer by.
After being poked and prodded for 20 seconds, even receiving a saliva-soaked finger in his ear, Mr Mulder finally snaps and punches the young man in the face, to gasps from the crowd.
The ultimate professional, Mr Mulder did not miss a beat and immediately resumed his statue routine.
The man taunted the busker on Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise.
Mr Mulder was back at his post in Cavill Ave last night and said he was not proud of lashing out but could only take so much.
"He was in the wrong, but at the same time I was in the wrong for striking out," he said.
"Violence is never vindicated."
He said he would even apologise to the man if they crossed paths again. Mr Mulder has been busking in Surfers Paradise for five years and has encountered few problems in the past.
The man poked and prodded the busker as he performed for shoppers.
Other street performers said the bizarre incident was the inevitable result of years of tolerating antagonistic antics from hecklers and pests.
"We put up with so much crap," said one.
"It was probably only a matter of time before somebody popped."
Brisbane student Richard Choeun, 21, said he was "shocked" to capture the incident while filming his 12-year-old cousin interacting with the busker on a family holiday last Saturday.
After being taunted for about 20 seconds, the busker lost it and punched the man in the face.
"When it happened we stopped recording because we were a bit concerned, the guy was bleeding from the mouth,'' he said.
"He walked over to his friends, he stood there for a bit and then he just walked away. I think he knew he was being an idiot.
"The busker pretty much just went back to his performance, he was great.
"Everyone in the crowd was really shocked, they didn't say anything, they were really surprised. I think they knew that he deserved it so they didn't really care.''
Statue busker David Mulder back on the street after becoming an internet sensation after punching a heckler in Surfers Paradise after being tormented. Picture: Adam Head
Mr Choeun said he was "very surprised'' when the video went viral, prompting phone calls and emails from global media organisations such as NBC and The Huffington Post.
"I only uploaded it for fun to show my Facebook friends, then I wake up and there's like 10,000 views on it and I'm being contacted by media,'' he said.
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