Well, I think I would say that the man is an easy target in the first place. And being arrested for tearing a scarf off in a heated argument is also pretty dump. Also, you can't just skip the possibility that he acts strange to get attention towards his project. Or the fact that apperently some people felt the urge to go there and start a rouse.

Even actors are humans, and I rather like the intensity with wich believes in his cause.