Question: is having the new iPhone so important to you that you’d camp outside an Apple store overnight to get one? Yeah, me neither. But there are lots of geeks and people who are obsessed with being the first to own the latest status symbol who would. Actor/hottie Jason Bateman managed to piss a lot of these people off recently by being allowed to hop the long line at his local Apple store in order to get his hands on the new iPhone. Though he says there were no boos, other witnesses say differently.
Deny it all you want, Jason Bateman.
After two sources confirmed to UsMagazine.com the actor, 41, outraged more than 2,000 people by cutting in line for an iPhone 4 last week, he wrote on Twitter, “There wasn’t one boo. Not one hiss. The Apple guy brought me in away from the paparazzi. Period. I was content in line. I wish I’d stayed.”
But more eyewitnesses have come forward to back up Us’ report that he was escorted by employees into the store. And there was, at most, one photographer “who kept a respectful distance,” customer Andrew Hamer tells Us.
“It was so much drama! It was the most surreal experience. People were so pissed because that line was ridiculous,” adds Angela Mayhew, who was one of the first people in line who arrived at 3:30 A.M.
Mayhew tells Us that Bateman arrived to the L.A. Apple store around 4:45 A.M., and initially waited “like everybody else.” But around 10 A.M., he was escorted inside first.
“I heard commotion in the back. I thought someone was fighting,” says Mayhew. “Then he strolls right on by with the Genius Bar guys and suddenly people in my area started to yell, ‘What the hell is going on?'” (Hamer says Community actor Donald Glover saw Bateman getting walked in and “tried to get the same special treatment, but [employees] told him, ‘Nope! Sorry!'”)
Bateman’s pal Keith Olbermann came to his defense on his MSNBC show, saying those in line were booing at paparazzi, but Mayhew insists they were yelling “at him!”
“It was loud, passive-aggressive anger. There was a chorus of boos and then people shouting, ‘What?’ and ‘We’ve been here for hours!’ We were patiently waiting before then [and] that just made everyone’s blood boil,” adds Mayhew. “Plus, people starting yelling at the Apple guys too. They escorted him like he was a pretty big deal.”
Mayhew sat next to Bateman as the Apple employees personally transferred over his contacts to his new phone. “Then when he was done, he was out of there in a flash,” she fumed to Us.
After word of Jason’s “special treatment” got out, he issued an apology on Twitter.
Jason Bateman has issued a mea culpa in the Great iPhone 4 Riot of 2010.
Last week, the actor ticked off a mob of 2000 by cutting in line with an Apple store employee to snag an iPhone 4. Via Twitter, Bateman initially claimed he was simply avoiding paparazzi and didn’t notice any ruckus. (The incident was even a “Hot Topic” on Monday’s The View.)
But late Tuesday — after more eyewitnesses confirmed what really happened to UsMagazine.com — Bateman changed his tune.
“Correction- If there were boos, I didn’t hear them,” the star, 41, Tweeted. “If some were mad, I didn’t see them. I wish I had. If you’re out there, I’m sorry.”
I think it’s unfair that celebrites get to cut lines, get free stuff, and in general get to operate by a different set of rules than the rest of us. What’s so great about them? But Jason isn’t to blame – I say the Apple store managers are. They’re the ones who offered to let Jason cut the line. Sure, he could have said no – but if you were offered the chance to jump ahead, what would you do? It’s obvious that companies like Apple and many others see celebrities using their products as great PR and free advertising, and they want to encourage it any time they can. It’s the reason why celebs get all these free gift bags at awards shows and things like that. I’m sure Apple wanted to be able to say, “Hey look! Jason Bateman uses our stuff!” But it has clearly backfired. Personally, I don’t get all the hype around the iPhone and why people are such slaves to them. There’s nothing that would get me out of bed at 3:30 in the morning except my house being engulfed in flames.
Maybe he was just avoiding the paparazzi. But, couldn’t security at apple just escourt the paps away instead of allowing him to cut in front of people?
i have an iphone and its really not all that
JB can cut in front of me any day! :o)
I find it rather pathetic that people camp overnight just for a dang phone.
Doesn’t he have “people” to stand in line for him? Call me Jason. I could be a “people” for you.
I don’t see why this is even a story, those people need to get over it. He’s a celebrity and there prob were annoying paps there. The guy waited in line vs. having an assistant sit there or getting a special order delivered to his house. This story just makes him more human, and I agree that I would have skipped the line too if given the chance.
OMG! Who cares! Those iPhone idiots ruined my business for two days b/c they took up ALL of the parking and camped out in front of my store so no one could get in!! The best part is when the skies opened up and dumped rain on them until they gave up and left!
@BrandyMc: I think you may be right. When I heard about this last week, I heard that it was not such much JB “cutting” as it was trying to get away from the paparazzi. However, it’s these very blogs, along with the tabloid coverage of these people which in turn fuel the paparazzi to keep doing what they do. Once the American public realizes that they are responsible for the frenzies that occur with regard to “celebrities,” only then will it stop. But that’s just not going to happen. We are a culture that tends to be very interested in our actors and actresses. iGeeks, get over it.
I don’t see the big deal. It’s not like he pulled the “don’t you know who I am!?” crap. He waited in line like everyone else and was given the opportunity to get ahead. He’d have been crazy to say no and keep waiting.
People waiting all night for anything (tickets, phones, etc.) are nuts imo. There are much better ways to spend your time.
@bite me: You might find this link very amusing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg
He waited in line for over 5 hours which certainly doesn’t count as diva or celebrity behavior. Complaints about him skipping the line sounds like bitchy whining to me.
If any of the other people in line bitching about this had the chance to jump the line, they would have taken it too. Shut up.
ITA with Really. Everyone in that line would have skipped the line if asked they are just ticked they weren’t the ones asked. I think I’d be more ticked at waiting in line at Disney World and a celebrity waltzes up and gets on the ride with no waiting at all. Where’s the anger over that? Celebs get perks. Like drinking while underage and not being arrested. Getting the best table at restaurants. Or not having to pay at clothing stores.
But I like Jason, I think he’s totally cool. The fact he waited all those hours should give him kudos not all this whining. I guarantee you there’s very few celebs who would have done that.
iriahserra, thanks for the laughs 😀
This rubs me the wrong way.
He had to know people would be pissed, but didn’t care.
so…I guess I’m team regular folks.
” … People were so pissed because that line was ridiculous,” adds Angela Mayhew, who was one of the first people in line who arrived at 3:30 A.M. … ”
Crazy sees crazy alright, but just not in the mirror.
LOL
Any one of them would have taken up the opportunity if given. Would have been a great show for him to say no and stand in solidarity but really any of the people booing would have cut the line if asked.
i don’t know…he still waited over 5 hours in line. anything over 2 hours and i would jump the line too
You know what? If I were him, I would have done EXACTLY the same thing. End Of Story.
I don’t think any less of him, but he should stop tweeting about it, apologizing and let the NON-story die.
Apple is to blame – they must monitor their line for celebs. He probably got it free also.
Yeah, good publicity Apple, only celebs matter.
Big deal–he skipped in line for an iphone, not a kidney. Get over it.
@irishserra: That was hilarious! Thank you.
@Bonnie
Celebs do get line passes all the time but not all of them take advantage. I was at Disneyland a few years back and was in line with Dustin Hoffman and his family. Also saw Robin Williams in line at Disney once too and he’s the damn Genie! 😉
anyone who would stand in line for some overhyped gadget is an idiot. seriously, do these people not have lives?
Bonnie- I agree that he IS totally cool!
Mollyb- that was hillarious! Way to put it into perspective!
He was offered the opportunity to line jump and took it. Not a big deal to me – I would do the same if offered. Worse is Donald Glover asking after if he can do the same! That to me is an example of a celeb acting entitled. Unless he said it jokingly, no way to know from someone’s recount of the story.
i will add my voice to the growing chorus of people saying i would have taken the chance to jump the line…
“Bateman arrived to the L.A. Apple store around 4:45 A.M., and initially waited “like everybody else.” But around 10 A.M., he was escorted inside first.”
that line alone tells me everything i need to know to make my “meh” judgment that i would have been more pissed at the employees that gave the star treatment, than to the start who was actually in line for HOURS and took an opportunity anyone else would have taken
In his defense, he did get there at 4:45 Am and stood in line until 10. He didn’t ask to cut the line, Apple saw it as free PR and went to him. Let’s be honest…would any of you really say, “no, no, I’ll just wait and take my chances”? I wouldn’t.
Ron: It’s good to hear about Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams. Seriously. That is all I’ve heard for years and years that all these big name celebrities would jump to the front of the line at Disney.
“Crazy sees crazy alright, but just not in the mirror.”
Love it, popcorny! I can’t imagine waiting on line like that for some phone, but what other people do with their own time…
Ideally he should have declined special treatment, but as everyone has said, anyone offered would jump at the chance.
I blame the Apple store for singling out one person and bringing them in early. If there truly was a problem with paparazzi, call the police.
Pretty funny Donald Glover tried and was shut down!
As most other people here said – if Apple, or any other provider gave you the chance to go ahead of the line, the vast majority of people would take it.
One question: how does the “fuming” Angela Mayhew know he arrived at 4.45am when she was at the head of the line? Is she relying on other people’s reports (which means he could have as easily arrived at 4 or 6am for all she knows) or did she actually see him arrive, which would suggest to me that the line wasn’t all that long when he arrived. Either way. Shut up and concentrate on not losing reception on your new phone!
Old news. Love him, he gets a pass from me. More upsetting is the fact that he was acting like a foolish geek waiting in line for a stupid new phone! Seems like there’s a new “must have” phone out every week! If my phone is working fine and meets my needs, I don’t need the latest gadget.
“Correction- If there were boos, I didn’t hear them,” the star, 41, Tweeted. “If some were mad, I didn’t see them. I wish I had. If you’re out there, I’m sorry.”
He was in line with a couple of hundred other people for hours, probably even talked to some of them, then got pushed in front of everyone else. Is he in a freakin’ bubble? Maybe he didn’t realize that all those people in line with him were actually there for the same phone he was getting. Maybe he thought they were waiting in line for the freakin diner around the corner to open so they could have breakfast. So why not cheat to the front of the line.
Once again, another clueless celeb with no manners or morals or tact.
All of you defending him are idiots!
Look, the guy could have sent his assistant or had his manager call in a favor, but instead he showed up at 4:45AM to wait in line like everybody else. The employee sees him and escorts him inside … is he really gonna say no?! Would you?!?! Give the guy an effing break!
It’s a PHONE, for crying out loud. I hate my iPhone and can’t wait to get rid of it. So, he jumped the line, big fat hairy. I would have too, not that anyone would ask me if I wanted to. Angela Mayhew got her phone, so what is she pissed about?
Wow, this whole story is all kinds of fail in the funniest ways.
1st FAIL–Jason Bateman is a big enough dork to wait in line for a phone?
2nd FAIL–he cuts in line. He could’ve refused the offer. How did he think the other dorks would feel about that?
3rd FAIL–he lies about not being booed on Twitter when he SO obviously was? Love the “I didn’t hear them” excuse.
And, then comes the “heartfelt” apology–haha.
My opinion of him went way down.
Enjoy your phone, Mr Bateman. I hope you learn your lesson and get a lowly assistant to get it for you next time–just like the other spoiled celebs. 😉
After five hours I’d sell my firstborn to get out of that line.
And why exactly couldn’t he tell the Apple employees, “No thank you, I’m fine with waiting”? He acts like they forced him into the store. He willingly went even though he knew other people had been waiting for a lot longer than him. It’s called common courtesay, something these Hollywood assholes don’t seem to have. Jason Bateman, you’re a dick and you know it.
Keith Olbermann said what happened is he was escorted into the store because of photogs. The store said he was just given shelter and no special treatment.
incidentally, stores are privately owned and they can make and break their own policies regarding letting someone in early, ahead of the crowd, etc. There’s no law that says first in line, first to get a new iPhone.
He can cut if front of me any time. Some of you are a little too serious, I think stores should take the back of the line people first. Just to mess with the front of the line people.
Meh I would have done the sam thing in that situation.
People are acting outraged celebrities get perks? It’s almost a defining feature of being a celebrity. If people are willing to give them advantages they should take it, no point refusing good opportunities presented.
Is he a douche for cutting? Yes!
Would I have done the same thing if I was in his shoes? Hell yes
I love my apple products but I certainly wouldn’t wait in line for them. Saw people waiting hours for the ipad a few months ago but the very next day my local retailer had dozens of them and no line. Crazy.
Anyway, whatever, I think Jason probably made himself look a bit a knob, by cutting the line but I can’t really fault him when most would do the same. On the Celeb Arrogance Scale it’s pretty low in my opinion.
How is this different than lining up to get into a club and a limo pulls up and a “celebrity” walks in ahead of everyone else? That happens many times yet it does not make the news. Waiting in line for hours to get a phone seems really stupid
He should not have cut the line, and he knows it. He knew damn well it would upset people and rightly so.
oh man, people need to build a bridge and get over it already. I happen to have a friend who owns a well received restaurant. I get in with no wait regardless of when I show up. I’m not going to say “oh no, really, let me wait two hours.” Sorry, it’s a perk and I occasionally use it.
oh, whatever
They could totally have a pre-sale!
Those huge lines are just to attract media attention! And people are stupid enough to go there and wait for hours in line…lmao It´s not like the freaking thing is going to run out of stock FOREVER!
So I am not going to side anyone on this, to me both “regular folks” and “spoiled celeb” are equally stupid!
I love how many people are so quick to pass judgment….Were ANY of you there?! NO…. I WAS.
I got there just after 5am and he was about 20 people ahead of me in line.
YES… he waited in line, just like everyone else and even chatted with anyone who came up to him. He was VERY nice and VERY down to earth.
Around 10am, the paparazzi started showing up and it was causing some craziness. The APPLE STORE EMPLOYEES and THE GROVE SECURITY thought it was best (and safest) to quickly escort him inside… so that’s what happened. You could tell that he really didn’t want to, but the staff and security insisted.
I heard MAYBE a few “boos” and those were from younger people, who to be honest… looked like “punk kids” who would be the kind to cause trouble because the paparazzi were there.
Thanks Jason, for the real poop.
I don’t care if they cut the line or if Steve Jobs personally gave him an iPhone, its your choice to queue up.