Bill Gates Gets Pie in the Face

Wednesday, February 4, 1998;

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Bill Gates got a cream pie in his face Wednesday as the Microsoft Corp. Chairman arrived for a meeting with business and government leaders.

"We regret the incident (but) will not press charges," said a spokesman for the Belgian office of Microsoft.

Police arrested two people but did not identity them. They were looking for a third person who was in on the prank.

The pie thrower hit Gates full in the face as he entered the Concert Noble, an ornate hall where he was to meet Belgian computer industry and government leaders.

With cream dripping on the shoulders of his dark business suit and covering the lenses of his glasses, Gates was led into a side room where he was dusted off.

He later emerged, looking somewhat embarrassed as he met with Luc van den Brande, the prime minister of Flanders, Belgium's Dutch-speaking northern half.