According to his official bio, CNN's Richard Quest is "instantly recognizable," "dynamic," "inimitable," "unique" and "distinctive."
All of this was verified Friday in New York where, at the ungodly hour of 3:40 a.m., the instantly recognizable Quest was arrested in Central Park.
Since the park is closed between 1 and 6 a.m., Quest and a male associate were stopped by police and charged with loitering. That's when the dynamic Quest allegedly volunteered an admission that qualifies as inimitable: "I've got some meth in my pocket."
There's more.
Citing law enforcement sources, a story in the New York Post this weekend alleged Quest had "a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals" and "a sex toy in his boot."
I think we can agree: unique and distinctive!
"It wasn't immediately clear what the rope was for," reported the Post, though Quest was probably not on his way to lasso bucking broncos at the all-night rodeo.
At a court hearing, Quest agreed to six months of drug counselling. In exchange, the charges would be dropped.
CNN did not comment. So the professional fate of the network's correspondent and business travel specialist remains unknown. (Meaning, viewers may eventually have to turn elsewhere for tips on flying first class, staying in swish hotels and using airport urinals without, you know, accidentally strangling themselves.)
Richard Quest busted with methamphetamines? Who could have predicted such a sordid turn of events for a guy who delivers his reports at breakneck speed and at a volume that suggests he's shouting over imaginary sirens and jackhammers? Who could have ever imagined such a predicament would entangle a fellow who gesticulates wildly, grins euphorically and twitches manically? It almost makes you wonder if there were any warning signs.
Take the time CNN sent Quest to Berlin for a story on how the plunging U.S. dollar was affecting the cost of overseas vacations. I'm not suggesting he was under the influence of any controlled substance. But if he was, it might explain why he blew the $100 he was given on a taxi ride, souvenir and a slice of cheesecake.
Did you know Quest once conducted a live interview with the wrong person and kept going even after he realized his mistake? He also told The Independent that, if not in the media, he would like to "work with those magical flying machines." (Show of hands if you think he's referring to airplanes. Now raise them if you believe he's talking about dragons.)
And if you read his Business Traveler blog last year, you'll know he tends "to pack three or four of the same colored (sic) shirts"; he once got himself trapped in a shower stall inside an airport lounge; and he recently bounced a few cheques because "I had forgot to transfer money into the account to meet the bills!"
Then there's his popular program Quest, in which he learns about subjects ranging from "music" to "celebrity activism" to "spirituality" to, ahem, "the high life."
"Did you ever believe that the drugs enhanced your songwriting creativity?" Quest once asked Nikki Sixx.
Another time, Quest tried his hand at magic. His routine included – I'm not joking – the "Professor's Nightmare Rope Trick." (That should be his explanation right now: "What, these drugs and this rope around my privates? No, no, it's all an illusion!")
When his magical performance was done, Quest wandered off stage, looking drained. He told cameras his mouth was "as dry as it has ever been." He added, "I couldn't get the rope to go where I wanted it to go."
This was initially a bit of a shock... but when you really think about it, hmmm, not so much.
6 months of drug rehab and the charges are dropped? Bit of a double standard here, if you have a celebrity status, it doesn't really matter what you are caught for you get off way easier than average citizens.
If this had happened to Joe Schmoe in the park, he would have been charged w/ possession of methamphetamine and had to do atleast a years probation and most likely never have the charge dropped.
6 months of drug rehab and the charges are dropped? Bit of a double standard here, if you have a celebrity status, it doesn't really matter what you are caught for you get off way easier than average citizens.
If this had happened to Joe Schmoe in the park, he would have been charged w/ possession of methamphetamine and had to do atleast a years probation and most likely never have the charge dropped.
Pretty much like when Willie Nelson was caught with something like a few ounces of Psilocybin Mushrooms and a pound of Marijuana on his tour bus in 2006. Only to get off with a Misdemeanor, hmmmm.
These cases really need to be brought up in court when someone is caught with alot less, getting some real jail time and paying massive fines.
As it is likely the meth was at least partially responsible for his bombastic style of "journalism," I wonder if he could sue for "restriction of trade."
21-04-2008, 13:59
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