Russell Crowe's time-lapse of judgement? Star posts YouTube video of UFO sighting

Is Russell Crowe trying to divert rumours that he is dating Les Miserables co-star Samantha Barks, or has he really seen a UFO?

The Oscar-winning actor uploaded videos to YouTube of a suspicious looking bright red object flying through the sky. The video is introduced with the wording: “Time lapse photos outside RC’s office in Woolloomooloo…These are real…UFO?”

Crowe tweeted the link to video, saying: “A friend and I set camera to capture fruit bats rising from Botanic Gardens, this was a big surprise.”

But the YouTube stills received sceptical comments from viewers online.

One posted a message reading: “I don’t understand, if this was time lapse photography then that could just be a plane? What am I missing here?”

Another wrote: “Russell, Mel rang he wants his gimmick back.” Other comments suggested that the star was drunk and had too much time on his hands.

Crowe hit back at cynics, tweeting: “Canon 5D, No Flash, can’t be a lense flare because it moves, camera is fixed.”

Rumours that Russell Crowe and Samantha Barks are romantically linked has been denied by both actors on Twitter.