Another version says it stems from a family fight. Either way, you can bet there are no fistfights during La Tomatina. Hell, people are too busy holding up French fries trying to catch some tomato paste as it flies by to think about fighting. Charlie Chaplin was pie-ed. Soupy Sales was pie-ed every day.
Some people don t appreciate being pie-ed.
A couple of years ago members of the Biotic Baking Brigade were arrested in San Francisco for tossing a cherry pie at Mayor Willie Brown. They were found guilty of battery, he was found guilty of having no sense of humor, and no matter how you look at it, it s still better than a duel in Union Square at dawn. Right, like they could wake up the homeless that early to get them to clear enough space for a duel. It was unclear why they did this, though I suspect it was because they didn t want to waste any gouda. Unfortunately this food fight wasn t harm-free two protestors were injured in the melee.