An arrest warrant has been issued for Cuba Gooding Jr.

The Oscar winning actor allegedly shoved a female bartender against a wall at The Old Absinthe House in New Orleans in the early hours of Tuesday and police have now been ordered to arrest him on sight.

A misdemeanour battery warrant was issued following the incident in which Cuba became upset when some customers at the bar started taking his picture, according to gossip website TMZ.

He started verbally abusing them and was asked to leave by the female bartender.

However, Cuba allegedly was furious and shoved her against the wall. While the police were called, no arrests were made at the time.

The actor is in New Orleans to film The Butler with Oprah Winfrey.

The movie – which also stars Forest Whitaker, Terrence Howard, Alan Rickman, Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Fonda – is based on the life story of Eugene Allen, who worked in the White House over the course of three decades.