Actor and talk show personality Drew Barrymore was whisked away during an appearance in Manhattan after a man disrupted the event as he attempted to rush the stage as Barrymore was engaged in a conversation with musician Reneé Rapp.
During an interview with Rapp at Manhattan's 92nd Street Y, Barrymore was in the midst of answering a question when a man in the audience later identified as Chad Michael Busto shouted her name, startling her.
In a video shared on social media, Busto can be heard saying the following:
"You know who I am. I need to see you at some point while you're in New York… OK."
An event organizer provided insight into the situation, revealing that Busto had a ticket for the event and initially appeared to be making his way to his seat. However, as he reached the stage, he began shouting, leading to immediate action from security personnel.
You can see what happened in the video below.
@vidsofceleb Scary moment, thankfully security took care of it. #drewbarrymore #reneerapp
A source said a guard grabbed Busto as he attempted to rush the stage and "escorted him right out into the street."
In response to the incident and out of an abundance of caution, both Barrymore and Rapp were escorted to the green room backstage. The source shared that Rapp took it upon herself to ensure Barrymore's safety, guiding her offstage.
The source suggested the two handled it like the pros they are when they "came right back out and the show continued," adding:
"He didn't threaten her, he's not like a known stalker to [Barrymore]. In fact, [Barrymore] said that that was the first time that ever happened to her."
"We notified NYPD, but even NYPD said, like, 'There's nothing to charge him with.' He didn't fight it. He didn't resist."
Video of the incident quickly went viral on Twitter.
Many were taken aback by the incident.
Interestingly, it was revealed that Busto is known for causing disturbances in celebrity circles.
People who have encountered him in the past noted his penchant for seeking attention from celebrities and attempting to disrupt events.
Barrymore has not commented on the incident.