Andrew McCarthy Held at Gunpoint in Ethiopia

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 8th 2010 11:02AM

Times sure have changed for '80s heartthrob Andrew McCarthy. While penning a piece for travel magazine AFAR, the actor was detained at gunpoint after entering an Ethiopian church without proper documentation.

According to PEOPLE, the actor, who found himself without his paperwork while visiting the historic Lalibela church in Ethiopia's Amhara Region, was confronted by an armed guard. "His gun [was] pointed at my back," McCarthy writes. "I thought his reaction to my offense was extreme; I tried to say as much. He grunted something in Amharic and prodded me with the tip of his rifle."

After being escorted from the church, McCarthy was helped to safety by residents of the town.

Despite the alarming incident, the actor maintained his sense of humor, saying it was "just the kind of thing that happens when you show up alone in a distant country without a plan."

Tags: Andrew McCarthy, lipstick jungle

Comments

(63)

Monday 08 February

By montonic

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The anger of some people--lowlife?? Do you know him to one and since when being a"lowlife" merits killing someone for it?? Where do YOU live? Not this USA--I hope and I hope NEVER meet people so mean in my life!!! By the way, I do know him, but I do like him as actor. That doesnt give him the right to think he could get away with something--BUT it does still make him HUMAN, and humans make mistakes!!!!!

By alan

Chris, big deal judges in africa still wear grass skirts, live in mud huts and eat grubs.

By sluggo

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Big deal about the judge . My uncle is a doctor. A WITCH DOCTOR

By margaret

New to this whole e-mail thingy so just cruisin on thru cy-ber space and yunz guys n gails are concerned with Andy Mcskinny old ass in ETHIOPIA, huh? well if you stare out your window long enough maybe SANTA will bring you a nice BLOODY car accident to watch. GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE!!!

By Jo

LMAO

By FromThom

Typical Hollywood type: Thought that the guards reaction to his breaking the rules extreme. They seem to think that the rules only apply to others.

By richard

What a dumb ass...you travel to foreign countries it's your own fault whatever happens to you. It's like thoes 3 kids in Iran. they were doing what in Iraq and thought they were on the border. WHAT BORDER what a bunch of dumb asses. I don't have any feelings for anyone who think the world is some playground they can just go anywhere they want. Show some respect to the worlds borders and if there in conflict with America you had better just stay away.

Friday 12 February

By henok

Honestly that's what he gets for not having a ticket and sneaking in. It's a historic sight. Same would have happened in the U.S. they would have arrested him and fined him, I'm sure.

"I thought his reaction to my offense was extreme; I tried to say as much. He grunted something in Amharic and prodded me with the tip of his rifle." WOW OK Andrew -- I think the REAL PROBLEM is YOUR fu-ked up entitled American attitude!

By Nadia

Oh so the news is important when a celebrity is involved but its not important when everyday American people are possibly being held hostage there. Not to mention the innocent locals that live there that are being killed off by greedy, old American politicians that focus on nothing but profit, war, and taking money and civil rights away from those who have worked hard for it...

By Mark

I heard Joe Jackson is trying to get Micheal Jackson a part in Weekend At Bernies III.

By flash

They must have seen his movies

By Jos

Jesus, people. He was just going into a church, okay? Nothing to do with politics or the movies he was in. Lay off.

By Lindy

Sirboss, your jealousy of Andrew's hot sex appeal is so obvious. Just remember, your right hand likes you, is affordable and always available. Unlike real women.

By scorpdaddy

Who really cares?

By Yadi

did anyone actually read the part that said he was writing a piece for a travel magazine? nowhere did the article say anything about politics.

By C

I really like Andrew McCarthy. He's a good actor. The article says he was writing a traveling article not anything political. He just didn't hve the right papers-could happen to anyone. I was in Turkey once and one of the girls I was traveling with strolled right into a mausk (sp?)during a service thinking it was where the tour guide was going next-wrong. She just got some looks and was fine otherwise.

Saturday 19 June

By suz

Held at gun point? where does it say that in his story....making story.... media!!!!!!

Tuesday 09 February

By martha

you all are stupid... why u are saying bad thing about us(Ethiopian)didn't u read a history book?? we are Ethiopians the brave once and the Great once we are not following ur white ass we kicked u when u need it, especially when u r trying to touch our properties we know well how to bit and kicked u. who is he after all he is just a white pa pet ... so he tried to enter to our church with out a permission? is it his father house? those of u who write such a things about us... we already know u... u white bastards.. we know from our experience... u came with one fullish reason to take our resources we don;t need ur support Africa will always ur food and shelter u took everything from Africa with out Africa u are nothing... so please and please shut ur big white mouth.

By semira

Insulting Ethiopia...huh...? you guys have no idea where you came from. you should know that if you are disrespecting Ethiopia and her people that means u r not respecting ur ancestors! and check this out "when black man's skin faces whiteness he call it "disease" but when white man faces blackness on his skin he call it "beauty" " and the one who eats pig will act like one.

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