Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore, 48, had a scary encounter at a speaking engagement at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan on Monday evening.
In a video captured by the @vidsofceleb TikTok account, with more than 4 million views, Barrymore can be seen talking with event host and “Sex Lives of College Girls” star Reneé Rapp — then suddenly she’s whisked away from the stage as an alleged stalker begins to approach her.
“Drew Barrymore!” the man can be heard yelling out in the crowd as she is talking.
“Oh my God, yes — hi,” she says into the microphone as she scans the audience.
The man proceeds to identify himself as “Chad Michael Busto,” per Variety, yelling out, “You know who I am. I need to see you at some point while you’re in New York.”
As he spoke, a bodyguard steps in, as well as Rapp, 23, who can be seen putting her arm around Barrymore’s waist as she escorts her off the stage.
Thankfully, the “Music and Lyrics” star was able to make a return to the event just moments later.
She was met with an enormous round of applause from the audience.
“By the way, just to be clear, the second they were like, ‘Ok, we’re good,’ I was like, ‘Hey, do you need anything, do you need to sit?’ She was like, ‘Oh, no, I got it — I’m good,’” Rapp said of Barrymore when the two sat back down on stage.
“Well, I have a new definition of your sexiness — it’s the protectiveness that went full ‘Bodyguard’!” Barrymore said in response, referencing the 1992 film.
Then, in a sweet moment, Barrymore got up from her seat to give Rapp a big embrace.
“You are my Kevin Costner!” she joked, referencing the actor, who starred in the movie alongside Whitney Houston.
It was not immediately known whether Barrymore knew — or even had previously met — stage-stormer Busto.
The Santa Monica Daily Press reported that the same man may have been previously apprehended in that city in 2009 and arrested for resisting officers and seven outstanding warrants.
The paper also claimed that he had several disorderly conduct and trespassing arrests in other states including Georgia, Texas, Minnesota, Florida and Wisconsin.
The Post obtained numerous police reports for a man named Chad Michael Busto, which documented offenses for criminal trespass, resisting arrest, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, theft, harassment and more in several states, as recently as January 2022 and as far back as June 1999.
However, The Post could not confirm whether it was the same individual at Barrymore’s event.
The Daily Beast also reported that Busto may have been obsessed with Amber Heard and was allegedly banned from an online fan forum after allegations arose regarding “stalking,” “sexual harassment” and “threats.”
Others on X, formerly Twitter, claimed that Busto had numerous social media accounts there.
The Post reached out to Barrymore’s representatives and the New York Police Department for comment.
In the comments section of the video posted to TikTok, many fans expressed concern for Barrymore and her safety.
“This makes me sad especially because Drew is so receptive and caring and it’s such a scary situation,” one user wrote.
Another agreed, writing, “Drew is so amazing I can only imagine how scary that actually was.”
Others praised Rapp for stepping in so quickly.
“Renee read those vibes QUICK. I adore them so much!” someone else chimed in.
Another joked, “Renee was like not today sir, not today.”
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