Some celebrity obsessions inevitably take a tragic turn, with violent tendencies manifesting themselves in violent acts. In the case of Jodie Foster, her stalker would turn out to be one of the highest profile cases in the history of both Hollywood and American politics. John Hinckley's infatuation with Jodie Foster during the late 1970s and early 1980s was extreme, to say the least. A college drop-out, Hinckley was convinced that Foster was in love with him and that one day they would rule the country - a note he sent to the star made this fantasy abundantly clear, reading, "One day you and I will occupy the White House and the peasants will drool with envy." While Foster was a student at Yale University, Hinckley tried to impress her by stalking Presidents Jimmy Carter and then Ronald Reagan - not long after, he attempted to assassinate Reagan, while leaving a note for the actress which read, "Please look into your heart and at least give me the chance, with this historic deed, to gain your respect and love." Reagan survived the shooting and Hinckley was arrested and placed in a mental hospital. In 2011 it was announced that he was to be released - it was reported in 2013 that, upon discovering that Jodie Foster is gay, Hinckley was said to have been furious. "If I had known I never had a chance with Jodie because I'm a man, I wouldn't have tried to assassinate the President to get her to like me."
