It turns out that the Oscars only mistake was not just reading the wrong title for Best Picture… Remember when in a sad attempt to make the celebrities that packed the room look accessible to the public, they invited a small tour of people in to take some pictures in the room of “demi-Gods”? Well, it turns out they didn’t even do a rudimentary vetting of attendees. ‘Gary from Chicago’, who was paraded around the room by Jimmy Kimmel, is an ex-con who was literally just released from a 22 year prison sentence for attempted rape. Via Page Six:
The star-struck Coe emerged as a breakout star when he introduced himself to host Jimmy Kimmel as “Gary from Chicago” while wearing a “Hollywood” sweatshirt and holding his fiancee’s purse.
But Coe was only able to be there because he had been released from the slammer three days earlier, ABC7 reported.
It turns out the 59-year-old was imprisoned in 1994 for attempted rape, the Daily Mail reported.
According to records, he was released from Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison north of Bakersfield, Calif., which has been called “the largest addiction treatment center in the world.”
Coe met his fiancée, Vickie Vines, behind bars, where he turned to religion, the Mail reported.
The couple plan to tie the knot this summer, but Denzel Washington — who Vickie said is her favorite actor — declared them “man and wife” in a faux wedding on stage.
It was unclear if Academy Award organizers — who already have egg on their faces due to the riotous Best Picture flub — were aware that Coe, who was seen kissing Halle Berry’s and Nicole Kidman’s hands, is a registered sex offender.
“Change is possible. It’s a sad day to be in prison for 20 years and not be able to be a dad, granddad to your children,” he told ABC7 in Chicago. “You know what my son told me today, man, and I almost come to tears. He said he’s proud of me. So to hear your children say that they’re proud of me means the world to me.”
The scheduled appearance Monday by Coe and his fiancée on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” was scrapped.
ABC7 reported that he had been told the post-Oscars show was overbooked and that there was not enough time to feature him.
