A few days ago, People Magazine exclusively reported that Haley Joel Osment was arrested at a ski lodge/resort in Mammoth Lakes, California. There weren’t tons of details, but the police confirmed to People Mag that Osment was arrested for public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance. Osment was arrested and booked on April 8th, and he was released from custody soon after. So, I thought this was bad, but I also thought, hey, sh-t happens and it sucks, but it sounds like Osment was just partying too hard on vacation. Well, Mammoth Lakes police released footage of Osment’s arrest, and he was calling the arresting officers “Nazis” and he also used an antisemitic slur (yikes). Haley has now issued a public apology for what he said and did while he was “in the throes of a blackout.”
Haley Joel Osment is apologizing after using racial slurs against a police officer while being arrested earlier this month. The actor, 37, was arrested and booked for alleged public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance at a ski lodge in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on Tuesday, April 8. On Thursday, April 17, the Mono County District Attorney’s office said in a statement he was charged with possession of cocaine and disorderly conduct, and his arraignment is scheduled for June 7. He is now issuing an apology for the “disgraceful language” he used while being arrested.
“I’m absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner,” Osment says in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, April 17. “The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place.”
Osment — who lost his home in the Altadena, Calif., home in the Eaton Fire in January — continued: “But that’s no excuse for using this disgusting word. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage – I’ve let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I don’t ask for anyone’s forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake.”
In bodycam footage obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, Osment is seen being placed under arrest and heard repeatedly claiming, “I’m being attacked.” When asked for his name, Osment repeats, “I’m an American.”
Police then search the actor and recover a $20 bill before putting him in a police car. While speaking with bystanders at the scene, the officer unfolds the bill and discovers a substance inside, telling those around to “be careful.” It’s unclear what was inside the $20 bill. A police source exclusively told PEOPLE on Wednesday that the “controlled substance” Osment was arrested for “is presumed to be cocaine. We sent it for testing. We will have the results soon.”
The bodycam footage also shows one witness telling an officer that Osment was drinking at a nearby bar, however, employees cut him off after he spilled a drink. He became “aggravated” and “argumentative” and tried to get on a ski lift, but employees wouldn’t let him and called police, the witness alleged.
In bodycam footage from inside the car, Osment is heard saying, “I’m being kidnapped by a f—— Nazi.” He later calls the arresting officer a racial, antisemitic slur.
The actor has had legal trouble before. In 2018, police were called when Osment had a public verbal scuffle at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Super Bowl Sunday in 2018. In 2006, when he was 18, Osment was charged with misdemeanor drunk driving after he was injured in a car accident. He later pleaded no contest to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of possession of marijuana and was sentenced to three years of probation.
Wow. I’m including the arrest video below (it’s edited for time, but you get the idea). It’s actually very clear that Osment was blackout drunk and I totally believe he has zero memory of what he said and did with the police. Apparently, when he’s on cocaine and booze, he turns into Mel Gibson. Which is WILD. I’m glad he issued a thorough apology and I hope he gets some help. I hope this is his rock-bottom.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- CULVER CITY, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 01: American actor Haley Joel Osment arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Somebody I Used To Know’ held at The Culver Theater on February 1, 2023 in Culver City, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 753561930, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Haley Joel Osment, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 20: Haley Joel Osment arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Shout! Studios, All Things Comedy and Utopia’s ‘Drugstore June’ held at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters on February 20, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 849090900, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Haley Joel Osment, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- PaleyFEST 2025 – Poker Face at the Dolby Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA,Image: 985522816, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Haley Joel Osment, Credit line: Nicky Nelson/Wenn/Avalon
Here’s the thing with drunks and that is they don’t lie. Their inhibitions are non existent and they tell the truth. Seems he may have some issues.
This isn’t entirely true. When we are in a state where we are adrenaline fueled and lashing out, we will say whatever reactive words that come to mind. That doesn’t excuse his behaviour, but I don’t think it condemns him either. People say things they don’t mean all the time, it’s purely reactionary.
I agree, Jay Blue.
Growing up I had some relatives who were awful bigots and threw around slurs on the regular, along with other awful language.
Fortunately, I had others who were balanced, not hateful who raised me up to NOT do that. So, those hateful words aren’t ones I’ve ever purposely used in public or private or even think of internally.
But every once in a blue moon when I’m furious at something, or in a moment when I’m purely reacting, like I just dropped something heavy on my bare foot or some jerk just hit my car, some random expletive from the vaults of decades ago childhood memories flies out of my mouth … usually one my father or mother would use when they were furious. And the ‘dear old dad’ version occasionally includes a slur or other hate speech. And I’m immediately profoundly ashamed, even if no one else heard me.
The Mom version is usually something like Son of a Beech Nut Gum, much less troubling. The most common is Fuck a Duck. No idea where that came from.
RE HJO, if he says hateful things when he’s drinking or using, maybe it’s time for help to not drink or use, no? But for now he’s on notice pending further info/action. IMO
He clearly needed a wake up call about his abuse of alcohol and other substances. Hopefully this is the turning point.
I was blackout drunk once in college. And apparently I repeated some gossip that others had told me about someone and told him to stay away from me for my own safety. Several times. He was very hurt by this and I was horrified. I didn’t believe any of this gossip, but I guess I was so sincere in my drunkenness, well, we never talked again. So, Haley has never acted this way sober and never uses these slurs except under extreme influence, I can believe him. But that is based on my personal experience.
No one uses slurs drunk who isn’t a bigot. Sorry but drinking doesn’t just magically make you say racist slurs unless you are in fact actually a racist. Really alarming how many people online are defending using racist slurs.
“No one uses slurs drunk who isn’t a bigot.” <– This!
I have a theory: I think being an alcoholic or a drug addict makes people more prone to being racists and bigots. I have witnessed people getting sober and slowly renouncing their bigotry as they work on their recovery. I am not saying this to excuse him just the way I wouldn’t excuse violence caused by drinking – it makes people violent too. This is just personal experience.
Exhibit #1; cute kids don’t always grow up to be attractive adults.
Haley Joel Osment lost his home in the Eaton fire, as did his parents. Insurance is doing insurancey things and refusing to pay. I would imagine that he’s under a lot of stress and that he’s relapsed.
Not remotely an excuse for using a slur. At all. He’s not the only celebrity or public figure who lost his home. They managed not to shout slurs at people. The way people are jumping to excuse this is bullshit.
There’s no way that’s the first time he’s used that word. And it’s extremely likely he’s done so stone cold sober.
Stress is not an excuse for a relapse.
Stress is not the reason for the relapse.
The reason for the relapse is that he chose to get drunk or high to deal with his stress rather than deal with it like a mature & responsible adult.
I’m sorry that he lost his home & that he isn’t sober.
But we have to change the language surrounding addiction & we have to stop enabling.
That poor Boy! Something in his life went terribly South and this is how he’s coping.
I hope he gets the assistance he needs. My niece’s house was spared in the Altadena fires, however her cousin’s house was Not. He, his wife and children are at his parents home until the Insurance company takes care of the loss. Where are Hailey’s parents? Siblings? Cousins?
Let’s not infantilize him by calling him a boy. He is a full grown man.
If he’s an addict, his family might’ve distanced themselves for their own protection. They are not obligated to fix his life for him if he’s making bad decisions. That’s on him.
He’s 37 years old! How is he a boy? He’s a grown-ass man who got shitfaced and used horrific slurs against people. The hell is this you’re trying to accomplish by infantalising him?
Yeah, no excuses for him. He lost his inhibitions and told the truth on himself. He showed us who he is. Believe him.