Celebrities have certainly created some memorable moments here in Austin, but it seems to be their arrests that make for the best stories. With a new celeb arrest making headlines, we got to thinking about the other famous folks who’ve made headlines in the ATX.
*Editor’s Note: This story was published in October 2019.
Here are some of the most remarkable times that celebrities got busted in Austin.
9. Jared Padalecki
The most recent addition to the list, “Supernatural” star Jared Padalecki was booked on two counts of assault and one count of public intoxication in October 2019. TMZ obtained video of his alleged altercation which you can see here. The incident went down at Stereotype off of West Sixth, a bar partially owned by Padalecki.
8. “The Real World” Cast Members
Remember when that annoying little MTV show called “Real World“ set a season in Austin? While the reality series was filming in 2005, cast member Danny Jamieson was involved in a televised brawl on Sixth Street. In that same season, Nehemia Clark “accidentally” bitch-slapped a guy at the Best Wurst stand while Johanna Botta was accused of stealing a rose from a street-side stand. Not sure how hot-headed Wes stayed out of trouble, but good for him.
7. Blac Chyna
Chyna was arrested at the Austin airport, where police say she was drunk and disorderly, while on a layover between LA and London. According to TMZ, she stormed the gate, boarded the plane, and screamed at a flight attendant, “Nasty ass bitch!” The arrest occurred a mere week after her relationship with Rob Kardashian was made public. Following the arrest, Kardashian drove his Bentley across country to pick her up, though it was an Uber that actually took her to meet the reality star.
6. ASAP Rocky
As illustrated in the documentary SVDDXNLY, a fan at his 2012 SXSW ‘Vice Kills Texas’ party lobbed a full beer can on stage, nearly hitting a member of Rocky’s crew.
“Please! Don’t throw nothing at us because we don’t want to end this early,” said Rocky. “We want to have fun. People came to have fun.”
Despite the call for calm, things went awry after another can was thrown, and nearly every member of the rapper’s crew rushed the crowd, starting a brawl that caused police to quickly shut down the party. In related news, Rocky says rapper ILoveMakonnen gave him LSD which resulted in three orgies at SXSW 2015.
5. Tyler, the Creator
At SXSW 2014, TTC was arrested for allegedly inciting a riot. According to reports, the Odd Future rapper had exhorted fans to push their way past employees controlling entrance to the Scoot Inn, which was already at capacity. The 23-year-old rapper was later arrested at the airport.
4. Paul Qui
OK, so he’s not the biggest name celeb. But he did win “Top Chef” in 2012. Early last year, the Austin resident was arrested after police said he threw his girlfriend against the walls of his apartment in a drug and alcohol-fueled rage. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint and of assault causing injury-family violence. He later checked into rehab and closed his flagship restaurant Qui. On January 4, Qui opened his newest concept restaurant, Kuneho, in the same East Austin location.
3. Johnny Manziel
As we first reported in December, a lawsuit was filed by New York New York bar (East 6th St) employee Eric Newton alleging the Heisman Trophy winner broke his nose while attending a private party in September of 2016. But this wasn’t the first time Manziel made headlines in Austin. In 2014, TMZ reported that he was slinging drinks at Rooftop on Sixth, just two months before the NFL season started. Then, in 2015, TMZ shared pictures and video of him partying at The Summit and Rio during the Cleveland Brown’s bye week.
2. Shia LaBeouf
Another multiple offender, LaBeouf was first arrested for public intoxication on Sixth Street in 2015 during ACL weekend two. Then, a little over a year later, Austin locals say the Emmy winner caused a scene during a Warpaint show at Emo’s while in town for a screening of his post-apocalyptic drama Man Down. According to a Reddit thread, LaBeouf sexually harassed at least two girls.
1. Matthew McConaughey
Perhaps it all started back in the ’90s when Matthew McConaughey was involved in the greatest Austin arrest of all time. The 29-year-old UT grad was simply playing some music on his bongo at his Tarrytown home when police were called on a complaint of loud music. According to the police report, an officer saw the actor dancing around naked and playing bongo drums through the window. When the cop went to the door, he smelled pot and decided to search the place. After finding a bowl filled with marijuana stems and seeds, a bong and a pipe, the officer told MM to put on some pants and took him to jail.
Did we miss a notable celebrity mishap in Austin? If so, email us and let us know.
