Attention A-listers, you may now attend movie premieres and awards shows without fear. Vitalii Sediuk, a serial red carpet prankster whose violent intrusions have wreaked havoc on celebs from Los Angeles to Cannes, from Adele to Will Smith, is turning over a new leaf.
“Basically, I’m changing my life,” Sediuk told the Hollywood Reporter Tuesday. The 25-year-old Ukrainian ex-journalist is now trying his hand at a modeling career in London.
In a farewell that is frankly long overdue, he thanked Hollywood for putting up with his antics. (Though not everyone laughed him off. After he got into a row with Brad Pitt in May, Sediuk was sentenced to 20 days of community service and an order to stay 500 yards away from all red carpet events.)
“I would like to thank Hollywood for having me this two years and a half. It was an experience that taught me a lot in life,” he said. “Most importantly, I would like to say sorry for celebrities that had to deal with my stunts and thank them for being tolerant to me all this time.”
Here, a look back at his most memorable antics:
That time he accepted Adele’s Grammy
“Such an honor to receive this award. I love you Adele,” Sediuk said into the microphone, accepting Adele’s Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance last year before the singer herself could get to the podium.
No one knows how he got there, but Jennifer Lopez shot him an evil glance that smoothly eased him off the stage.
That time he tried to kiss Will Smith
Posing as a reporter conducting interviews at the “Men in Black 3” premiere in 2012, Sediuk tried to smooch Smith and got smacked across the face by the actor.
That time he grabbed Leo’s crotch
As Leonardo DiCaprio made his way down the carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February, Sediuk waited patiently on one knee before grabbing onto Leo as the actor passed by him.
The jokester clung on to DiCaprio’s bottom half and it took all of security to pry him off.
That time he sneaked a peek under America Ferrera’s dress
Oops! America Ferrera wasn’t even his intended target. He dove under the actress’ fluffy Georges Hobeika Couture gown at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival mistaking her for Cate Blanchett.
That time he tried to hit Brad Pitt
There are a few things you don’t mess with in Hollywood, and Brad Pitt’s face is definitely one of them. While Pitt was speaking to press at the “Maleficent” premiere in May, Sediuk lunged at the 50-year-old actor, grabbing onto his lapels.
Pitt told People that he, in turn, “cracked him twice in the back of the head.” Sediuk’s run came to an end that night, as he was hauled off to jail.