The Dark Side of Fame
The Downside of Having Millions of Fans
Dear Permission to be Powerful reader,
On June 1, 2018, Roger Alvarado climbed a ladder, smashed a window, and broke into Taylor Swift’s townhouse in Tribeca.
He took a shower.
Using her body wash and loofa...
He slept in her bed.
On her sheets…
He used her toilet.
And no - he DID NOT flush.
Police arrested him inside the home
He was sentenced to 6 months + 5 years probation for the 2018 break-in.
He broke into her home again in 2019.
Another 4 years in prison.
“I have no regrets.”
– Roger Alvarado
Frank Andrew Hoover drove from Texas to Nashville three times.
He believed Taylor Swift was the mother of his son.
He sent her hundreds of emails…
He claimed he would “wear a bomb” if he couldn’t be with her.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years of probation, GPS monitoring, mandatory psychological treatment, and ordered to stay at least one mile away from Swift and her family.
David Crowe was arrested outside Taylor Swift’s townhouse in Tribeca.
Witnesses watched him trying to open the front door.
He was charged with stalking and harassment.
There was no prison sentence for Crowe.
He was found mentally unfit to stand trial and committed to a psychiatric hospital.
Aharon Brown entered Ariana Grande’s home more than 100 times
On September 9, 2021, he was carrying a large hunting knife.
He was later sentenced to 3 years in California state prison.
On July 9, 2022, police arrested Chad Michael Busto after he drove from California to Ariana Grande’s home in Montecito
Authorities said he violated a restraining order.
He was carrying a hunting knife when officers arrested him.
Chad Michael Busto didn’t stop at Ariana Grande.
Just weeks later, he barged into a backstage dressing area at an Emma Watson fashion event shouting:
“I want to marry Emma Watson. Let me speak to Emma Watson. Let me take a photo with Emma Watson.”
He was arrested again for trespassing and disorderly conduct.
But he got no prison time.
On May 5, 2025, a man crashed his vehicle through the front gates of Jennifer Aniston’s home in Bel Air while she was inside
Security guards pinned him until police arrived.
The suspect sent Aniston unwanted texts, DMs, and social media posts for years.
On June 8, 2014, Joshua Corbett climbed over a fence and entered Sandra Bullock’s home…
While she was inside
Bullock locked herself in a bedroom and called 911.
Police arrested Corbett inside the house.
Investigators later recovered firearms, ammunition, and notebooks detailing his obsession with the actress.
On October 3, 2016…
Five men forced their way into Kim Kardashian’s residence
They bound her hands and feet with zip ties.
They taped her mouth…
They locked her in a marble bathroom…
They made off with $10 million worth of jewelry.
Kardashian later said…
“I was sure I was going to be raped and killed.”
Defendants received sentences ranging from 3 to 8 years…
But because of time served, most served little or no additional prison time after trial.
On June 10, 2016, Christina Grimmie finished performing at The Plaza Live in Orlando…
She began greeting fans…
As she opened her arms to hug the next person in line...
Kevin James Loibl shot her.
Grimmie’s brother tackled the gunman before he died by suicide.
Grimmie died later that night
This list could have been much, much longer.
The cost of fame.
Tony V.
Editor-in-Chief
Permission to be Powerful
