VIDEO: Pal Says Balloon Boy’s Dad "Driven By Fame"; Talked Of Planning UFO Stunt
Posted on Oct 20, 2009 @ 11:57AM
Richard Heene, the father of the "balloon boy," has mentioned he was planning to stage a media stunt involving a UFO, Heene's ex-business colleague, Robert Thomas, told The Today Show Tuesday.
Thomas, a self-described entrepreneur, said he reached out to Heene, who was uploading science-based videos to YouTube, earlier this year in the interests of collaborating on a reality TV show. Thomas said he had nothing to do with the alleged hoax or conception thereof, saying he was essentially an intern for Heene.
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Thomas said that when he saw the incident unfold on TV, "The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Who would possibly do something like this? It has to be Richard Heene.'"
He said that he felt he had to come forward after seeing Heene’s 6-year-old son Falcon say, "We did it for the show" during a television interview last week.
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Thomas -- who described Heene as "very creative" and "very hyperactive" -- said that appearing on the ABC reality show Wife Swap left Heene with a swollen ego and hunger for the limelight.
"Unfortunately, I think he's a little driven by fame and really interested in promoting himself," Thomas said. "He really needed to focus on his family."
Balloon Boy Is Now Officially A Hoax
A worldwide audience watched Oct. 15, as the homemade helium balloon soared 7,000 feet over eastern Colorado for just under two hours; it was revealed during the dramatic incident that the boy's family had gained fame on the ABC reality show Wife Swap. Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden Sunday told reporters he will likely recommend felony charges against Heene and his wife, Mayumi in connection with the incident.
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Jon Gosselin the second.
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:46am
I dont know why he "walked away with a swollen ego" from wifeswap. I saw it on you tube and this guy should have crawled in a hole and never came out. Throwing coffee on the swapped wife? That is NOT OK. Does he treat his wife that way?
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 9:58am
OMG - that is NOT entertainment - it's abuse!
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:47am
Sounds like this dad and Kate Gosselin should get together. They're both all about the "fame" and could care less about how it affects their children. Hey, it's all for the "reality show", right?
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 9:50am
Whereas I was thinking how much like JON he is. Ugh.
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:48am
Jon Gosselin is the one parading around his family and their privacy for money. Bubble Dad and Douche Gosselin, the fame cravers who will do it at the price of their children.
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 9:59am
ya, ya, we've established that now so let's move on to the next story. Hey, where's Jon & Kate these days? lol
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 9:38am
this is just crazy, the extent that people would go to get themselves on t.v. is disgusting. especially when they are using their children to do it.
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 9:11am
So true. WTF is wrong with these people and their priorities?
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:49am
Ok, what exactly is in the water lately that is breeding this fame **** trend! We have Bubble Boy's Family, OctoMom, Jon Gosselin, Mike Lohan.........ugh! WHY do they all think negative attention is good?
Posted Tue, 10/20/2009 - 8:59am