Days before being caught in a public incident in Malibu, actor Gary Busey faced accusations of groping three women at a horror movie convention in New Jersey. The Cherry Hill Police Department reported the allegations, revealing that Busey inappropriately touched the victims during a meet and greet at the Monster Mania Convention. The charges against the 78-year-old actor include two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual assault, one count of attempted criminal se.x.ual assault, and one count of harassment.
The convention, held from August 12 to 14 at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, saw Busey as a special guest. Three women reported the incidents to the police, prompting concerns of additional victims. Busey’s behavior led to his removal by event security at one point. Lt. Robert Scheunemann emphasized the multiple complaints about Busey’s inappropriate touching.
Initially unidentified, Busey was later recognized by the police, resulting in swift action to prevent further incidents. While Busey’s lawyers have not issued statements, the convention’s attorney stated that they assisted authorities, promptly removing the celebrity guest and urging attendees to report to the police. The convention emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of attendees.
Gary Busey Imagined As An Army Of Willy Wonkas Is More Terrifying Than That Creepy Tunnel Scene
Actor Gary Busey becomes an army of crazed Willy Wonkas in terrifying AI-generated art inspired by the new Timothée Chalamet prequel movie.
Gary Busey becomes an army of crazed Willy Wonkas in terrifying AI-generated art inspired by the new Timothée Chalamet Wonka prequel. Sprung from the mind of Roald Dahl, enigmatic candy-maker Wonka made his debut in 1964’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory brought the character to the big screen, with Gene Wilder giving an iconic performance. Tim Burton offered up his take on the character in 2005, with Johnny Depp in the role, and now in 2023, Chalamet is set to don Wonka’s hat in a musical prequel film.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated Wonka release date, another new version of the iconic candy man has been offered up using AI-generated art, with Oscar-nominated actor and reality star Busey cast as Wonka himself. Check out the terrifying images below (via hall0weent0wn_):
1971’s Wonka film was no stranger to creepiness, but nothing in that movie, even its iconic psychedelic tunnel scene, compares to the nightmarish sight of an army of Gary Wonkas wearing maniacal gape-mouthed expressions.
Gary Busey Might Have Been A Good Willy Wonka (At One Time)
He’s now largely known as a reality TV figure and walking punchline, but Busey was at one time an acclaimed actor, receiving an Oscar nomination for his lead performance in 1978’s The Buddy Holly Story. Had the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory been made ten years later than it was, when Busey was a name actor, it’s conceivable that he could have landed the lead role, and it’s possible that he would have turned in an amazing performance.
Wilder’s Wonka performance is acclaimed, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else being as good in the role. However, Busey in the time of The Buddy Holly Story had the acting chops to pull it off, though his performance would have by necessity been very different. Busey did not have Wilder’s unique combination of whimsicality and mania, but he did have a gruff quality that would fit the character, and he certainly had the ability to deliver his own brand of manic performance. The sight of Busey as Wonka is terrifying now, and the thought of him playing the character today is ridiculous, but there was a time when it would not have been inconceivable that he could have been cast in the role, and pulled it off.
Actor Gary Busey allegedly involved in hit-and-run car accident in Malibu
Actor Gary Busey is accused of being involved in a hit-and-run collision in Malibu.
Busey, 79, allegedly collided with another driver on Aug. 30 in the late afternoon while driving a blue Volvo, according to a statement by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided to USA TODAY. The driver identified Busey and claimed “he refused to stop after the collision occurred and refused to provide proof of registration and financial responsibility,” per the news release.
The incident occurred on the 23000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, which is where the Malibu Pier is located. The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station is investigating the collision and the driver’s accusation that Busey fled the scene.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Busey for comment.
According to video obtained by TMZ that showed the aftermath of the alleged accident, the driver of the car who accused Busey of rear-ending them chased after and confronted the “Lethal Weapon” actor.
“Sir, you hit my car. I need your information,” the driver says as they drive alongside the man identified as Busey on the highway.
Later, the driver speaks with Busey in a parking lot. As he gets back into his car, Busey says he has “Progressive insurance” and drives away without providing further information.
Anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to reach out to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station’s Traffic Investigations Office at 818-878-1808.
In 2015, the LA County Sheriff’s Department said that Busey had struck and slightly injured woman with his car while backing out of a shopping center parking lot in Malibu. She was treated at the scene and released. Last year, he was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment at the Monster-Mania Convention in New Jersey.
Busey was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Buddy Holly in the 1978 film “The Buddy Holly Story.” In 2014, he won Season 14 of the U.K. show “Celebrity Big Brother.” Busey also competed on Season 21 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Contributing: Associated Press
