BRAD PITT GOT PUSHED BY HIS OWN BODY GUARD

BRAD PITT GOT MANHANDLED BY A SECURITY GUARD WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING HIM:

BRAD PITT attended a screening of his new movie, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Monday night in Los Angeles . . . and there was minor chaos when Brad was manhandled by a security guard who was trying to protect him.

But as usual, there were hordes of paparazzi following Brad . . . and by the time he got to the theater, they were swarming to get inside. One of the security guards hired by the theater to watch over Brad grabbed him by the arm, spun him around and removed him from the situation. And according to witnesses, this guy was pretty aggressive and overzealous in handling his duties.

The guard hasn't been identified, but he did release the following statement . . . "We were told by Mr. Pitt's people that he was being followed by numerous paparazzi that ran a minimum of two red lights to keep up with Mr. Pitt. "When Mr. Pitt arrived at the theater approximately seven paparazzi bum-rushed the front door of the theater and began to rush inside. It's security's sole priority to protect the talent and I removed Mr. Pitt immediately from what could have been a potentially dangerous situation."

Brad apparently has no hard feeling toward the security guard OR the paparazzi. He told "People" magazine, "Though [the paparazzi] were exceptionally more aggressive than usual . . . breaking through a security barrier and into a private holding area . . . ultimately [it was] just another day in the life."