Superfan spent £20,000 to meet Arnie - but was thrown out for being drunk

A lottery millionaire was thrown out of an Arnold Schwarzenegger fans event in Edinburgh for being drunk - after spending nearly £20,000 on memorabilia of his hero.
Arnold on stage at the EICC. Picture: Greg MacveanArnold on stage at the EICC. Picture: Greg Macvean
Arnold on stage at the EICC. Picture: Greg Macvean

Superfan Lewis Rider, 23, who won a £1 million scratchcard jackpot last August, spent £18,000 buying up collectables at a charity auction where he hoped to meet his idol.

But when he heard the Terminator star had left the event, he was thrown out after a row with staff.

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Lewis had bought a replica shotgun for Terminator 2, Arnie’s leather jacket from the movie and a Conan the Barbarian sword.

Ex-barman Lewis, from Durham, said: “They were selling the chance to meet Arnie on the night but originally when I asked they said they were sold out.

“Then, obviously because of how much I spent at the auction, the production team said ‘We will sort something out - even if it’s just a couple of minutes’.

“When I found the bloke who had promised I’d meet Arnie, he basically said, ‘He’s gone now but we’ll send you down to Birmingham tomorrow instead’.

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“I wasn’t happy because it is a bit inconvenient having to travel all the way there. They just said, ‘Sorry, we shouldn’t have promised that.’ But I thought it was totally out of order so I was annoyed.

“I’d had maybe three bottles of Heineken and two glasses of champagne. I got kicked out for wanting what they told me I’d get.”

The Wednesday night auction at Edinburgh International Conference Centre, in aid of kids’ cancer charity Candle Lighters, followed an Arnie meet and greet costing up to £1,000 per ticket.

Event organisers Olexy Productions insisted Lewis was thrown out because he was a threat to the Hollywood star.

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A spokesman said: “Security did not think it was a good idea for him to meet and greet Arnie in the state he was in.

“He started making a scene as we tried to explain and sort something out. It just wasn’t an option.”