For years now, I’ve wondered why Garrett Hedlund doesn’t have a better career. He’s a good-looking white guy, and he could have been that sort of “young Brad Pitt” type that Hollywood would have loved to cast in a million movies. Why did he never have a bigger career? Bad decision-making on his part? Bad career-management? Did he never want it? I still don’t know. But it’s so weird to me that Garrett mostly gets headlines, at this point, for his romances. He was with Kirsten Dunst for years and she wanted to marry him. Then she left him and took up with Jesse Plemons and they are very happy together (and they have a baby). Garrett stayed single-ish for a while and then he ended up in a thing with Emma Roberts. Now Emma is pregnant and whenever anyone talks about Garrett, it’s as “Emma’s baby daddy.” Anyway, all of that to say… Emma’s baby daddy got a DUI in January. Hm.
Garrett Hedlund was arrested on January 24, for driving under the influence and having a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm.
“When the incident occurred, Garrett immediately sought treatment which was successful,” a rep for the 36-year-old actor told Us. “Today, he is in a solid and great place.”
The Country Strong actor was arrested on two DUI charges, according to court documents obtained by Us. At the time of his arrest, Hedlund’s blood alcohol level tested at .36 percent, four times the legal limit of .08. He was released on $100,000 bail.
During his sentencing on February 25, the Mosaic alum pleaded no contest to one charge, where the court found him guilty. The second DUI charge was dismissed. Hedlund’s attorney, Blair Burke, negotiated a plea deal, which required the Mudbound star to complete a 30-day residential treatment program and a nine-month first-offender alcohol and drug education counseling program, according to legal records. Other conditions of his 36-month probation also included attending 30 AA meetings and performing 100 hours of community service.
He was also ordered to install an ignition interlock device in his car to monitor his blood alcohol levels. His restitution hearing is set for November 25. A restitution hearing is typically held if the offender challenges the amount of monetary fine ordered by the judge.
The Tron actor was previously arrested in Idaho in 2006 for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a police report obtained by Us.
It sounds like he was blackout-level drunk and behind the wheel and he’s lucky he didn’t kill anybody. I mean, .36 blood alcohol level is WASTED. He had no business behind the wheel and it’s insane to me that in a city like LA, more celebrities don’t simply have a car and driver, or you know, just Uber or whatever. He’s 36 years old – not a dumb kid, not a Lindsay Lohan. He absolutely knew better. I guess he wants credit for going to a rehab center. Did he get Emma pregnant as soon as he got out? Damn.
Us Weekly also had a story where a source claimed that Emma and Garrett are “getting more and more excited” about the baby and “Garrett is really looking forward to becoming a dad and feels as though this is something he needed. He is ready to take on all the daddy duties, and Emma getting pregnant has forced him to become more responsible. He thinks that’s a blessing.” “Forced him to become more responsible” – ladies, this is a red flag.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, social media and Backgrid.
.36 BAC? How was he even conscious?
I read that and my eyes bugged. I loved Garrett when I was a young girl. I loved him enough to sit through Tron 2. I always wondered what happened to him when it seemed like multiple Hollywood players were behind him in 2009-2010. It seems like it may have been the drinks.
Like you don’t get that kind of BAC without years of practice. Also, the breathalyzer car ignition is usually only reserved for extreme behaviors.
I fear for that baby, especially given the “BaBiEs MaKe yOu GroW Up” rhetoric given both their histories.
Just here to say that the breathalyzer thing is not necessarily only in extreme cases; I’m in TX, married to a criminal defense attorney, and it is standard here for courts to require installation of a breathalyzer or similar as a bond condition for any level of offense even before sentencing. It varies widely by jurisdiction.
BAC of 0.36 is felony-level here, I am surprised he got probation. That is alcohol-poisoning level intoxication, regardless of your tolerance. And I side-eye the “forced him to get responsible” storyline. Babies shouldn’t have jobs.
They’re both messy apparently so I guess it’s a better match than I thought.
WOW. I’ve never even heard of someone reaching .36. That is…intense. I hope he’s well now. Between the two of them I’m a little worried for the baby, but hopefully they have a happy relationship and will be good parents.
That’s a dangerously high BAC. Like, alcohol poisoning level. That said, if he’s a drinker he’s likely to have built up tolerance. For the sake of their baby, I hope both of them are healthy.
“Forced him to become more responsible”
How long until he starts to feel resentment about being forced to grow up. How long until the fights really start when he is drunk and she has previous form for assaulting a partner. That poor baby being born into this toxicity.
Former prosecutor here–shame, shame, SHAME on him. You are right Kaiser, a .36 is black-out drunk. I don’t think I ever saw a DWI case during my time at the DA’s office with a BAC that high; it was rare for me to see BACs over .25. Unbelievable that he tried to drive and incredibly irresponsible and selfish. Also leads me to believe that he probably has a serious drinking problem. Wow.
That’s what I was coming to say…if he was at .36 and was still able to drive, that indicates a big alcohol tolerance, which indicates a big alcohol problem. I don’t think this is the last messiness we’ll see out of this couple.
Yikes…. there’s been rumors about his and Emma’s substance abuse issues before they even got together. I really hope that baby is okay and healthy.
Drunk drivers are extremely messy people. This isn’t something a normal person does or an uncharacteristic mistake. You have to have serious alcohol problems in order to drive drunk, especially THAT drunk. A month ago a guy I know posted himself on Instagram stories driving drunk. When I DMed him and confronted him, he blocked me.
I feel bad for that baby.
SPOILER! Babies don’t settle you down, they are super fucking stressful and wear you down and require tremendous support to stay grounded and healthy (sleep deprivation is brutal). In my experience.
This.
You are so right! Especially the first year of a baby’s life is so stressful. That first year was the hardest time my marriage has ever had.
oh gosh, I agree. Then those babies become teenagers and the stress level can be unbearable.
Props, Kaiser, for calling out that Red Flag. I hope many ladies listen. It took me years to learn and left me heartbroken. He took most of my baby-making years, now I’m going through a divorce from an addict during a pandemic.
Huge Red Flag. Dry drunks are a thing, too.
Well this says a lot about the dynamics of their relationship. And bringing a baby into this will only add more stress and pressure.
Wow. 0.36 is ridiculous. He absolutely needs help. He hasn’t been a good actor for a while and he doesn’t look well in one of the pics with Emma.
I am not optimistic for this union.
I sincerely feel bad for that baby. Sorry, Emma. Love your movies but this was not a wise choice.
As said below, Kiki totally dodged a bullet. Thank God because I love that woman. She’s been through enough heartbreak. She’s in a healthy, happy place it seems with nothing but a happy future on the horizon.
Sounds like Kiki dodged a bullet!
Wasn’t his messy behaviour i.e. drug use one of the rumoured reasons for their split? I think they referred to this as ‘lifestyle differences’ at the time.
I realized looking at the header pic that I have zero ability to recognize him. He looks like three different people in these photos.
Same here. I never recognize him and he always reminds me of someone else in every photo. In the recent photo with Emma on the buffet seat, he looks nothing like I expect him to look. He even seems taller and thinner, all limbs.
As a recovering alcoholic, I cringe and shudder knowing how dangerous I was when I drank. I hope he continues to seek help.
Ugh, disaster incoming…or already in progress it seems.
Poor kid. For the ten millionth time: it’s not a baby’s purpose or role to make anyone “better”. It’s a human, not a 12 step program.
Team Kiki. Since she dealt with binge drinking over the years, I’m glad she’s with a more stable partner. Landry!
Holy Moses. I had to look up blood alcohol levels and .4 and above is frequently fatal. That is some serious alcohol abuse. I’ve never been an Emma Roberts fan; I guess she and he are well suited (though I still think he’s hot).
Hedlund hasn’t had a better career because 1) he’s not that interesting an actor, 2) he’s had the bad luck to be competing with many, more-talented Marvel MCU hunks, 3) he’s easily confused with Charlie Hunann, who has the exact same not-real-interesting-talent problem.
Agreed. I remember when Four Brothers came out and I had a huge crush on him. His career hasn’t really gone anywhere since then. He’s not a ‘bad’ actor per se, but he has a limited range and is just average.
Hedlund hasn’t had a better career because 1) he’s not that interesting an actor, 2) he’s had the bad luck to be competing with many, more-talented Marvel MCU hunks, 3) he’s easily confused with Charlie Hunann, who has the exact same not-real-interesting-talent problem.