Winona Ryder

[timster]

I wasn't sure where to post this. <img border="0" alt="[Confused 2]" title="" src="graemlins/confused2.gif" /> Okay, can someone please tell me why this successful actress would shoplift about $6,000 of designer clothing? They just picked the jury for her trial on Monday. And, she turns 31 on Tuesday. I think she's definitely going to jail. <img border="0" alt="[Finger Wave]" title="" src="graemlins/fingerwave.gif" />

Hmm, the look of Winona in hand-cuffs. <img border="0" alt="[Love]" title="" src="graemlins/love.gif" />

<small>[ October 25, 2002, 08:51 AM: Message edited by: djtimster ]</small>

[jen*]

dj, this is the perfect place to post your observation about Winona Ryder.

I have difficulty understanding why she would do something like this, too. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[suzanne]

There are definely(sp?) Issues there!! I mean it's not like she is hurting for money or anything!! Either way it's really sad!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[called_fatso]

She's diffinately been one of my favourite actresses for years! <img border="0" alt="[Love]" title="" src="graemlins/love.gif" /> It is sad that this happened and I'm a firm believer that there is a simple explanation for all this... maybe a bad reaction to her meds or it could be a cry for help! About going to jail... I doubt it, a fine, probation, and some community hours should be enough. I hope things work out and she can concentrate on herself and maybe her movie carreer!

[timster]

Here is the latest:

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- When she was detained after allegedly stealing merchandise from a Beverly Hills department store, actress Winona Ryder told security guards that a film director had instructed her to shoplift to prepare for a movie role, a witness testified Monday.

Kenneth Evans, the head of security at Saks Fifth Avenue, said Ryder apologized after being apprehended by security guards and said, "My director instructed me to shoplift for a role I was preparing for. I'm sorry for what I did."

Evans said Ryder did not say what role she was preparing for, nor did she name the director.

Evans, the first witness called by the prosecution in Ryder's felony theft trial, said he became suspicious of Ryder while surveying a closed-circuit camera because she was carrying an "awful lot of merchandise"

After observing her movements on the camera, he instructed another security officer to follow Ryder into a fitting room where she brought hand bags, hats, purses, socks, dresses and hair accessories. He said the guard allegedly observed Ryder cutting sensor tags and price tags and stuffing several items into a shopping bag.

Evans said he monitored Ryder's movements for 40 minutes on a surveillance camera until she was stopped in a store parking lot and taken to a security room for questioning. He said he did not initially recognize Ryder on the surveillance tape but was informed of her identity by a security guard.

In her opening statements, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Ann Rundle accused the actress of walking into an upscale Beverly Hills department store last December "with the intent to steal" and walking out with $5,560 worth of merchandise stuffed into her bag.

"This is a simple case of theft. Nothing more, nothing less," Rundle said.

But Ryder's attorney, Mark Geragos, countered by saying the case was about "security guards at Saks Fifth Avenue who were out of control" and targeted the actress because they hoped she would get them tickets to a movie premiere.

Geragos termed Ryder's treatment by the guards "inexplicably horrible" and said one of them even lifted her top to check for merchandise.

Ryder, 30, star of such films as "Girl, Interrupted" and "Little Women," is on trial on charges of felony grand theft, burglary and vandalism. She could face a maximum of three years in prison on each count if convicted.

Wearing a conservative black short-sleeved dress, Ryder listened intently and took notes during opening arguments before the six-man, six-woman jury that will decide her fate. Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom.

Rundle said Ryder cut anti-theft sensor tags off the merchandise, stuffed it into her bag and walked out of the store. She told jurors that a key piece of evidence will be a surveillance videotape, which, while "boring," will prove Ryder's guilt.

But Geragos countered that "the reason the video is boring is because there's no smoking gun." He said it doesn't show Ryder cutting off the tags, nor does it show her putting the merchandise in her bag or stashing the security tags in the pocket of a coat where they were found.

According to the prosecution, the final total of the merchandise allegedly stolen by Ryder -- who, as one of Hollywood's top actresses, commands millions per movie -- was $5,560.40.

The trial resumes Tuesday at 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET)

[strawbere80]

winona ryder was so cute and I think she still is I think she made a mistake and I agree that she should have to pay for it, as we would have to. I heard the other day that the judge isn't going to give jail time but if he were too she could get up to 3 years in jail. I hope she has learned a lesson

[wavemeister]

What irks me most is that she (and many other celebs) are getting away with it without any further consequences (I've heard that she have to do some social work) while others of lesser fame can usually expect more drastic actions of the law (if anyone is interested in tennis, you might have heard of the case against Boris Becker for tax evasion).
Actor or waitress...face justice equally, and if your career is shot - well, if you were found guilty, it's your fault.

Oh, I'm not in the Communist party. :D

[witchstone]

I think she's one of the worst actresses every. Sure, she's pretty, but she's like a hole up on screen, sucking up energy (sorry Fatso!).

And yeah, she won't do jail time. They'll probably make her do a video about not shoplifting.

Some celebrities (especially ones who have been celebrities almost their whole lives, like Winona) start to get a feeling of entitlement. Because they are constantly being giving things and having other people pay for them, they start to think they're above money. And they're the ones who have it! Many celebrities are notoriously bad tippers. If I were rich, I'd be tipping like mad, because those are the people who need it and will take care of you if you tip them well.

But anyway. I bet her lawyer appeals on the grounds that one of the jurors was head of the studio where she made 3 films.

[timster]

The bottom line is:

They CAN afford expensive lawyers. We can't. They get off scott-free, we end up in the slammer.

[Adam]

Personally, I highly doubt Winona will do any jail time. One year probation and psychiatric treatment at best.

It totally sucks that people in the public eye get special treatment when it comes to law. Wonder if we should write our lawmakers??? You know they're all on the up 'n up. <img border="0" alt="[Laughin]" title="" src="graemlins/laughin.gif" />

Great observation Witch!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by witchstone:
<strong>Some celebrities (especially ones who have been celebrities almost their whole lives, like Winona) start to get a feeling of entitlement. Because they are constantly being giving things and having other people pay for them, they start to think they're above money.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You hit the nail right on the head on this one! <img border="0" alt="[Thumbs Up]" title="" src="graemlins/thumbsup2.gif" />

Who all thinks her story about getting ready for a role she will be playing is the cause for her ripping the stuff off? <img border="0" alt="[Laughin]" title="" src="graemlins/laughin.gif" /> You've got to be kidding me! <img border="0" alt="[ROFL]" title="" src="graemlins/rofl.gif" />

[suzanne]

Please give me a break!! Studying for a film role!! What a joke!! <img border="0" alt="[ROFL]" title="" src="graemlins/rofl.gif" /> To me they should be treated just like everyone else!! I still think it is crazy that they make 20 million dollars a movie and then treat people like dirt w/ the attitude of don't you know who I am!! I feel like saying don't you know who we are, we are the movie goers, the music buyers! You know the ones that go and pay 8.00 or 9.00 dollars to watch your movies and 13.00 or more dollars to listen to your CDS!! If it wasn't for us, the consumer you wouldn't be making movies!! But that is JMO :)

[timster]

BOOMER, U-GO-GURL!!