According to The Sun, authorities arrested a suspected stalker who reportedly showed up at Emma Watson's university on June 26th.
Chad Michael Bast, a 44-year-old American, was arrested in Oxford on suspicion of trying to find out the location of Watson, who is currently studying for a Masters in Creative Writing. The arrest came after local residents reported that Bast had enquired about Watson's whereabouts. according to To The Sun.
Emma Watson's suspected “stalker” has been arrested in Oxford after turning up at the Harry Potter star's university and demanding to meet her. https://t.co/WAwBepIduC pic.twitter.com/VXvBpIyNIk
— DailyMail US (@DailyMail) July 19, 2024
Bast, who faced arrest in September 2023 after causing a stir at a New York fashion show by declaring his desire to marry Watson, recently spoke out from Colnbrook Immigration Centre near Heathrow Airport. He claimed his aim in contacting Watson was to discuss a court case which he reportedly won in 2021.
“I visited the English department, I spoke to people, I went to the admissions centre to try and get information,” Busto told The Sun. “I was trying to get in touch with Emma Watson, but because I was asking around, the allegations were about me, but it wasn't made by Emma herself. I was arrested in the square near Starbucks.” (Related article: Miranda Cosgrove describes terrifying encounter with stalker who allegedly committed suicide in her garden)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 07, 2023: Emma Watson attends the Soho House Awards at Dumbo House on September 7, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Despite his claims, Bast's behavior raises serious concerns about his attitude toward celebrities. In addition to the incident with Watson, he was detained a month ago for attempting to approach another actress, Drew Barrymore. After his latest arrest, Bast pleaded not guilty to trespass and disorderly conduct and was released without bail.
Busto said she travelled from Boston to Heathrow Airport on June 12th to visit a government office in London. According to The Sun, she claims she had been sleeping in a church in Oxford and is being wrongfully detained. Police confirmed that a 44-year-old American man had been arrested on suspicion of stalking and has since been released under investigation. Details of the legal proceedings and Busto's future in the UK remain unclear.
