Chad Michael Busto: What Most People Get Wrong About the Viral Stalker

Chad Michael Busto: What Most People Get Wrong About the Viral Stalker

You’ve probably seen the video. It’s 2023, and Drew Barrymore is on stage at the 92nd Street Y in New York, laughing with Reneé Rapp. Suddenly, a man marches toward the stage, shouting Drew’s name with a terrifying level of familiarity. "You know who I am!" he bellows. That man was Chad Michael Busto. For a few weeks, his name was everywhere. Then, like most viral villains, he seemed to vanish into the digital ether.

But if you’re looking for a Chad Michael Busto Wikipedia page, you’ll likely find a hockey player instead. There is no dedicated Wikipedia entry for the man who sent Drew Barrymore running for cover and later targeted Emma Watson. Honestly, that’s probably for the best. We don't need to immortalize stalking. However, the details of his legal trail across the United States—and eventually the UK—reveal a much more complex and disturbing pattern than just a single "viral moment."

The 2023 Summer of Chaos

It started in Manhattan. On August 21, 2023, Busto didn't just walk up to Drew Barrymore; he demanded her time as if it were a debt she owed him. Security intercepted him, and Rapp quickly escorted Barrymore offstage. Most people would have taken the hint and laid low. Not Chad.

Just two days later, Busto was found in the Hamptons. He was literally going door-to-door, riding a bicycle up private driveways, asking neighbors where Drew Barrymore lived. He eventually found her farmhouse. Luckily, she wasn't home. Police arrested him, charged him with fourth-degree stalking, and a judge ordered him to stay away.

But Busto’s "mission" wasn't limited to one actress.

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By September, he had moved on to Emma Watson. He reportedly barged into a dressing room at a Ralph Lauren fashion show during New York Fashion Week. Witnesses say he was screaming about wanting to marry the Harry Potter star. He was arrested again. Disorderly conduct. Trespassing. The usual charges for someone who refuses to acknowledge boundaries.

If you think the celebrity obsession is weird, wait until you look at his court filings. Chad Michael Busto is what the legal system calls a "vexatious litigant." He’s filed lawsuits against... well, everything.

  • The Universe: In 2021, he filed a civil suit against "Everything, Existence, Reality, Life, The Universe, and the Milky Way Galaxy." He was seeking a finding of liability for the death of George Floyd.
  • The Hilton Hotels: He once filed a handwritten lawsuit claiming he had been granted ownership of the entire Hilton hotel chain.
  • The Pokemon Filing: One of his court submissions consisted almost entirely of Pokémon cards.

It's easy to laugh at the absurdity, but there’s a darker side. Busto has a criminal record stretching back over a decade. He’s been arrested in California, Georgia, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, and Wisconsin. The charges aren't just "bizarre"—they include indecent exposure, burglary, and resisting arrest. In 2009, he was arrested for breaking into an old Greyhound bus station in Santa Monica.

Why There is No Chad Michael Busto Wikipedia Page

Wikipedia has strict "notability" guidelines. Usually, being a "person notable only for one event" isn't enough to warrant a permanent biography. While Busto’s actions were widely reported by Sky News, CBS, and The Independent, editors generally avoid giving a platform to individuals whose primary "fame" comes from stalking and mental health crises.

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Interestingly, there is a Michael Busto on Wikipedia, but he’s a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman born in 1986. Don't confuse the two. The hockey player played for the New York Rangers' affiliates; the stalker just got arrested in the same city.

The 2024 Oxford Incident and Deportation

The story didn't end in New York. In June 2024, Busto surfaced in the United Kingdom. He flew to the UK with just a sleeping bag and £800, allegedly to "connect" with Emma Watson again. She was studying at Oxford University at the time.

Busto was spotted at the university's English department asking pointed questions about Watson’s schedule. Thames Valley Police arrested him. For a while, he was held at the Colnbrook Immigration Centre near Heathrow. By July 2025, reports confirmed that the investigation was dropped because Busto had been deported back to the United States.

The Home Office doesn't usually comment on individual cases, but they made it clear: Busto had no legal right to remain in Britain. He told reporters at the time that he was "on the run" and that his life was in danger.

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Understanding the "Non-Traditional Attorney"

Busto often refers to himself as a "non-traditional attorney" or a "private attorney general." He claims his ultimate goal is to "reduce crime in our society to absolute zero." In his mind, he isn't a stalker; he’s a whistleblower or a legal reformer trying to reach influential women to help him with his "big case."

This is a classic trait in high-profile stalking cases—the "erotomanic" delusion that a celebrity is actually in love with them or that they share a secret history. Busto once told reporters he met Drew Barrymore at a hotel in 2007 and believed they had a "history" to repair. There is zero evidence this meeting ever happened.

What This Means for Celebrity Security

The Busto saga changed the way many stars handle public appearances. You might have noticed that "stage rushing" incidents are met with much more aggressive security now.

  1. Vetting is deeper: Security teams now monitor "known travelers" like Busto who move across state lines.
  2. GPS Monitoring: Busto was ordered to wear a GPS tag in New York, though he famously failed to show up for the fitting.
  3. Digital Footprints: His history of stalking Amber Heard and other women online was a massive red flag that was missed until the 92nd Street Y incident.

Actionable Insights for Public Safety

If you ever find yourself dealing with an individual exhibiting "Busto-like" behavior—whether you're a public figure or not—the steps are clear. Do not engage. Busto’s own words in court show that he views any attention, even a "stay away" order, as a form of "relationship."

The best move is to document everything and involve law enforcement immediately. Stalking in the fourth degree might sound like a minor misdemeanor, but as we saw with Chad Michael Busto, it's often just one chapter in a very long, very dangerous book.

Stay informed by checking official court dockets (like PACER in the US) rather than relying on social media rumors. While the Chad Michael Busto Wikipedia search might lead to a dead end, his actual legal trail is a matter of public record that serves as a sobering reminder of the gaps in our mental health and legal systems.