Actor FOREST WHITAKER is so popular in Paris, France that workers at the city's famous Eiffel Tower had to shut down the monument so he could tour it in peace.

The Oscar winner was visiting the famous French monument on Tuesday (01Jul08) when he was mobbed by a mass of fans who caused such uproar that security was forced to give the actor a private tour.

A source tells the New York Post, "He was mauled. It was a crazy ordeal. They ended up closing the top level and giving him a private tour. Forest was so gracious when he came down, he took pictures with everyone."