Hollywood veteran Gary Busey, at 81, has just confessed to a troubling act that’s hard to ignore.
The Daily Mail reported that Busey, known for gritty roles in films like "Lethal Weapon," pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact after inappropriate behavior at a New Jersey horror convention in 2022, with sentencing set for later this year.
Let’s rewind to August 13, 2022, when Busey was a featured guest at the Monster Mania convention held at the Doubletree Hotel in Camden, New Jersey.
During a photo shoot, he was accused of touching two women’s buttocks without consent. A third woman reported that he tried to unhook her bra while making crude remarks about her body.
One victim recounted Busey placing his face near her chest and asking intrusive questions during the photo session.
This wasn’t just a misunderstanding; Busey himself admitted in court it was “not an accidental touching.” Well, that’s a rare moment of clarity from a man who initially denied everything.
Days after the incident, Busey told paparazzi the accusations were fabricated, claiming the encounter lasted “less than ten seconds.” If ten seconds is all it takes to cross a line, perhaps Hollywood’s golden age of impunity is finally getting a reality check.
Monster Mania didn’t waste time, removing Busey from the event upon receiving complaints and barring him from returning.
Their statement emphasized attendee safety as a top priority, encouraging victims to report to police. It’s a refreshing stance in an era where too many institutions might sweep such behavior under the rug.
Fast forward to a recent virtual court hearing where Busey entered his guilty plea, though not without some confusion. He initially questioned, “Am I pleading guilty? No,” before his legal team corrected him, prompting a reluctant “I am? Ok, I am.”
Judge Gwendolyn Blue wasn’t amused by Busey’s courtroom antics, including sipping a canned drink on camera. She sharply rebuked him, saying, “No, no, no, that’s not how it works.” It’s almost as if Busey thought a Zoom call was a casual coffee chat, not a legal proceeding.
Busey’s defense attorney argued for dismissal, alleging a flawed investigation and uninterviewed witnesses, but Judge Blue denied the motion.
Under a plea deal, additional charges against Busey will be dropped, leaving just the one count he admitted to. It’s a compromise that raises eyebrows—justice served, or a convenient shortcut?
Sentencing is scheduled via Zoom for September 18, 2025, where Busey faces one to five years of probation. He’ll also pay fines, submit a DNA sample, and carry a criminal record. For an actor once celebrated for tough-guy roles, this is a sobering fall from grace.
Back in 2022, a police affidavit revealed Busey asked detectives to apologize to two victims and dissuade them from pressing charges.
That’s not the move of a man confident in his innocence; it’s the desperate plea of someone caught in the act. In a culture obsessed with excusing celebrity missteps, this detail cuts through the noise.
Busey’s initial defense to police was that such contact could be accidental, a claim he later contradicted in court. It’s a flip-flop that undermines any lingering sympathy for a supposed misunderstanding. Hollywood may thrive on second chances, but accountability shouldn’t be optional.
Just days after the convention, Busey was photographed in Malibu in a compromising situation on a bench, pants down, which his spokesperson chalked up to a bathroom emergency.
While unrelated to the convention incident, it paints a picture of a man struggling with personal boundaries, whether by accident or design.