At the height of her fame, somewhere in her thirties, Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting. For the benefit of those who don’t know, shoplifting is the act of stealing from a store by hiding goods in clothes or a bag. The scandal put the Beetlejuice actress’ career in jeopardy, but she eventually tried her best to overcome it, becoming one of the most globally recognized actresses with a substantial fan base.
Ryder’s arrest for shoplifting in 2001 remains a memorable controversy, drawing intense public attention. After 15 years of being accused of shoplifting and facing intense media attention, the actress finally spoke out about it in 2016, offering insightful commentary on the event that damaged her reputation for years.
She was suspected of stealing $5,500 worth of designer clothing and accessories from a Saks Fifth Avenue department store when she was taken into custody on shoplifting charges on December 12, 2001, in Beverly Hills, California. The trial for the arrest commenced over a year later.
What Led to Winona Ryder’s Arrest in 2001?
According to the BBC, Winona Ryder was detained on suspicion of shoplifting on December 12, 2001, in Beverly Hills, California. She was allegedly accused of taking $5,500 worth of high-end clothing and accessories from a Saks Fifth Avenue department store. Eight prosecutors were gathered by Los Angeles District Attorney Stephen Cooley, who then brought four felonies against her.
Ryder brought in famous defense lawyer Mark Geragos. By late summer of 2002, negotiations had failed to result in a plea deal. The prosecution was not prepared to accept her plea of not guilty to misdemeanor charges, according to Joel Mowbray of the National Review.
Also, she was charged with using drugs without a valid prescription, including Vicodin, oxycodone, and diazepam; however, when it was established that she was receiving the drugs from a doctor for medical purposes, the prosecution dropped the drug possession charge. Although she was convicted of grand theft and shoplifting, the burglary charge was thrown out.
She was given a sentence in December 2002 that included three years of probation, 480 hours of community service, $3,700 in fines, $6,355 in restitution to the Saks Fifth Avenue store, and requirements to attend drug and psychological counseling. On June 18, 2004, Judge Elden Fox of the Superior Court looked over Ryder’s probation report and saw that she had completed 480 hours of community service, which led to the felonies being reduced to misdemeanors.
It was December 2005 when her probation ended.
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Winona Ryder’s ‘Shoplifting’ Arrest: Her Candid Perspective on a Defining Moment
Winona Ryder discussed her challenging time being arrested at Saks Fifth Avenue in an article published in Porter magazine (via ET online). The actress, 52, told the publication:
“Psychologically, I must have been at a place where I just wanted to stop. I won’t get into what happened, but it wasn’t what people think. And it wasn’t like the crime of the century! But it allowed me time that I really needed, where I went back to San Francisco and got back into things that. I just had other interests, frankly.”
Despite eventually returning to acting, Ryder found it challenging to regain the fame she had gained from her parts in movies like Boys, Reality Bites, and Edward Scissorhands. She recalled:
“People associated me with the 1990s and I wasn’t that anymore. And they didn’t really buy me as my age. It’s that line in First Wives Club — ‘There are three ages for women: babe, district attorney and Driving Miss Daisy!’ I just never got to play that district attorney.”
Ryder took a four-year career break in 2001. She did not feature in any new releases in 2001, except for a cameo in Ben Stiller’s comedy Zoolander (2001) and a guest appearance on NBC’s sitcom Friends. She eventually resumed her career in 2006 and 2007, making appearances in a number of independent films. Her first comeback role was with Joseph Fiennes in The Darwin Awards (2006).
She will next be seen reprising her role as Lydia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2. It will be released in theaters on September 6, 2024.
