Area Man Arrested for Not Returning “Freddy Got Fingered” VHS in 2002

The warrant was out for a $200 “failure to return rental property” misdemeanor fee, for which Tom Green has now volunteered to pay.
Film + TV
Area Man Arrested for Not Returning “Freddy Got Fingered” VHS in 2002

The warrant was out for a $200 “failure to return rental property” misdemeanor fee, for which Tom Green has now volunteered to pay.

Words: Nate Rogers

March 24, 2016

2016. Screenshot of local news report on the guy who was arrested for now returning “Freddy Got Fingered”

The interesting thing about Freddy Got Fingered is that, despite its incredible reputation, it seems that most people haven’t actually seen it. They know “Daddy, would you like some sausage”—and maybe also the Buster Keaton homage from the trailer—but for the most part it’s just, “Haha worst movie ever, amiright?”

Time to get your facts straight, world. It’s actually not the worst movie ever. In fact, it’s actually quite hilarious, if you’re the type of person who can find the hilarity in a scene where a newborn baby is swung around the room by its umbilical cord. That, and also if you can find enjoyment from watching Tom Green skate (he’s actually pretty good!).

Back in 2001, if you wanted to find out for yourself what actually was so over-the-top in Freddy Got Fingered, you had two options: go to a theater (and watch people walk out), or wait a few months and rent a VHS. James Meyers of Concord, North Carolina, chose the latter—and he’s now paying for it. Well, no—actually, he should have payed for it, and now he’s really paying for it. Eh, let’s move on.

Fourteen years after failing to return the tape to the now-defunct J&J’s Video, Meyers was arrested for a misdemeanor charge of “failure to return rental property” after being stopped on his way to take his daughter to school. Explaining that this was not a joke, the cop who discovered the warrant had the good sense to let Meyers continue on with his day if he promised to return to the station later. He did, where he was then put in handcuffs.

It appears that Meyers was working on his own to get the charges dismissed, but Tom Green himself has now stepped into the situation. Yes, the man who once drank milk straight from a cow’s udders seems to be a pretty chill dude, and called up Meyers to say hey, and to ask if he’d like some sausage (literally). He also said that he’d be happy to pay the fine, all in the name of justice.

You can watch Green explain the story on Australian news (where he was promoting a stand-up spot in Melbourne) here. We’ve reached out to Rip Torn for comment, and will update when he gets back to us. Surely he will.

(via WSOC-TV)