Kaylah Walton
Actress Winona Ryder recently shared insights on her withdrawal from Hollywood after the 2001 shoplifting incident that led to her arrest. In an interview with Esquire, Ryder commented, “I checked out… I think I just checked out,” reflecting on how she dealt with the aftermath of the arrest.
In December 2001, Ryder was arrested for shoplifting clothing worth $5,500 from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Following a conviction for grand theft and shoplifting, she faced consequences like three years of probation, fines, and community service. Subsequently, Ryder decided to take a step back from her acting career and relocated from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Reflecting on her return to the industry, Ryder highlighted the industry changes she observed. She expressed how the early 2000s were a challenging time for women, describing it as a period with difficulties where even popular individuals engaged in behavior that felt degrading and inappropriate. “It was the most degrading time to be a woman,” she recalled, alluding to the evolving landscape that made navigating Hollywood more complex.
The shoplifting incident had a profound impact on Ryder’s career, and she confessed to being initially bewildered by the seriousness of the situation. She recounted her confusion, saying, “It kept being like, ‘Oh, it’s fine, this is just, like, paperwork,’ and I was like, ‘OK.’ I was so confused.” When confronted with the specter of potential jail time, she remembered her disbelief, saying, “I just remember being told I was going to go to prison. I was like, ‘Huh? What are you talking about?‘”
Ryder Reflects on Life Post-Scandal: Navigating Difficulties as a Woman
Winona Ryder also expressed unease over the evolving tone of media coverage, particularly highlighting the intense scrutiny directed at young female stars during that period. She explained, “It felt like there was a shift in the industry and the culture about what became acceptable and what became rewarded.”
She further stated, “It was like 10, 12, 15 years, and it did coincide with everything that happened [in her life] but also, if you look at the period from 2000 to 2010: wow! It was the most degrading time to be a woman. Even the cool people were participating in what felt like it should be off-limits.”
Upon reflection, Ryder recognized that her hiatus from Hollywood allowed her essential time for introspection. In a 2016 interview, she revealed, “Psychologically, I must have been at a place where I just wanted to stop… But it allowed me time that I really needed.”
Now, as her upcoming movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice prepares for release, Winona Ryder finds herself back in the limelight, having weathered the highs and lows of her career with resilience and self-awareness.
