Roger Kaiser posted a photo on Instagram referring to “William Tell”, the opera at the Met where police say he sprinkled ashes in the orchestra pit.
The Times identified the opera fan who police say spread his mentor’s ashes in the orchestra pit at the Met on Saturday, leading to a terrorism scare. The opera was cancelled and the building was temporarily closed.
Apparently, Texan opera buff Roger Kaiser has been spreading his unnamed mentor’s ashes at operas throughout the country.
“It was just part of our deal that I would leave bits of him in all the houses I visit,” reads a message attributed to Mr. Kaiser in a Facebook post last month about a trip he had taken during the summer to a Colorado opera house. “The MET is next, late next month.”
The police, in consultation with the Met, decided not to charge him.
“This guy is not a bad guy,” the police official said. “He’s really just a friend who lost his friend and is following out his wishes.”
Investigators said that Mr. Kaiser told them that he tries to scatter the ashes discreetly so as not to cause alarm. He had walked out of the opera house gone to dinner, and hoped to return for the evening performance, the official said.
So happy he was not changed.
Met Opera and NYPD, Thank you.
I agree with no charges. Lesson, albeit expensive, was learned. Criminal justice system has and should focus on more important issues. We pay for all of it – remember that – and resources are not unlimited.
If he is sued to bankruptcy, as some on this forum have called for, then we have ruined his entire life. The people who missed the show were inconvenienced for a single night. Is that reasonable? I’m sure the MET will re-accommodate people – I doubt every performance is sold out (acknowledging that this might not be satisfactory for out of town attendees, but sometimes plans don’t work out).
So happy it wasn’t terrorism!!
I can see why they were concerned. Not a smart idea but happy nothing bad happened.
“He’s not a bad guy”. No, he simply prevented the presentation of two opera performances, costing the Met and the company members to suffer financially, and destroying the enjoyment of several thousand opera fans looking forward to the performances.
He does not deserve any pity.
I totally AGREE with Susan. There are some families that need to scrimp and save money to treat their families to these performances…and now (unless Met reimburses them) that money has gone out the window. A judge should order this creep to pay restitution to patrons.
Not a bad guy? Depends upon the meanings of the word. He no doubt had no malicious intent, but the undesirable consequences of his thoughtless action are substantial. The thousands of patrons who had their day ruined might not have so sanguine a view. Presumably many of them will want their money back, which will be a big financial blow to an already struggling institution. Why should someone responsible for this get away without even so much as a slap on the wrist?
Well at least nobody died. Oh, wait….
Charges would’ve been excessive, but, damn, he should’ve known better. Did he ever even apologize?
So will the Met be reimbursing all of its patrons? This is a disgrace.
sorry to disagree: this Texan made the Met opera lose
two performance – worth of opera lovers and a lot of
disappointment all around.
he planned to return for the evening performance ?? the
cheek !!!! he should be prosecuted ! or sued.
To all so outraged by this man not facing criminal charges, the MET (and perhaps others) are still within their rights to perhaps bring legal civil action to recoup any “loses”.
However what would be the good of that? Even if anyone won a judgment how much of it would they likely collect?
Yeah, just a white guy…
from Texas…
wrong *not* to charge him, for so many reasons
Yes girl tell it to the people.
What about the people who paid for the night at the opera? And their anxiety? He should go to jail and also should be sued into bankruptcy. What an evil man or maybe just stupid.
He looks like a clown.
This is outrageous. One person’s kookie idea to spread his unnamed mentor’s ashes caused bedlam at the opera, plus tons of anxiety and money. How about all the folks who traveled purposely to the Met to see those performances, having bought tickets and made plans, probably including travel plans, baby sitters, hundreds of dollars. I am sure the Met will make good, but this kind of nutty behavior, no matter how “harmless”, simply can’t be condoned without consequences. Leave the ashes – if he must – in some hidden place – not spread all over the orchestra pit – it’s is not ALL about him and his mentor.
what an ash-inine stunt
Told you so!
Once the substance was determined to be human remains and the actions behind their dispersal were known, it became less likely either the NYPD or Manhattan DA would pursue the matter.
Yes, they could have thrown a bunch of charges on the wall to see what would stick, but that was before the new enlightened mayor, city council and Cyrus Vance, who seem to want to do everything possible to *NOT* criminally charge persons for minor offences.
Remind me why easing up on the court system, and not burdening people by charging them with “broken windows” petty crime that only a select few complain about is a bad thing?
An example of “criming while white.”
I don’t have any sympathy for this guy. What a jerk! And a beneficiary of white privilege, to get such understanding and tolerance from the police official.
I can’t afford tickets too often so I would have been pissed if I would have been at that performance and have it cancelled mid-show. It was a disgusting act by a selfish jerk.
People should sue him and the Met for their losses because of this. The plaza wasn’t good enough for him)
“Tenor René Barbera, who was to have sung in Italiana on Saturday evening, posted remarks on Facebook asking that this man be spared abuse and criticism. He wrote, in part, of “A very kind, sweet, and good person who made a mistake, albeit a very expensive one … He had no ill-intent and truly believed that his actions were nothing more than a loving gesture for a dear friend who passed away … We all know the end result of his decision and it did have a very wide reaching negative effect. One he is immensely sorry for and one he had not even considered would have been a possibility.”
https://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/what-can-happen-when-opera-performance-cancelled/
Enough said!
Sadly when things happen that cause a cancellation of a MET performance options for compensation can be difficult to work out but am sure something is coming. The MET has been putting out the word for affected ticket holders to reach out to them to see what can be done.
Sam, were you being sarcastic?
Wijmlet, this *was* terrorism. Still happy?
What do people think terrorism is… an infinite number of pranks until nobody cares anymore to say something when they see something=sounds exactly (and works exactly)like terrorism to me, as anyone who was born after 9/11 in this country knows
…by a terrorist who will continue on his merry way, enjoying *his* white, Tex-ass privilege.
If he’d had his gun on him, he’d probably have used it on a jerk who sprinkles white powder over the orchestra.
…
Of course this was not a financially harmless act, either…not for the people who attended and not for NYC.
I hope he’s not allowed back!!! (That’s if there are any charges at all.)
So wrong not to charge him on so many levels. As others have said he ruined the performance which people pay hundreds for. Scared the audience, staff and performers. Wasted police resources. I question whether this is a sincere expression of grief or a desire to be disruptive and be recognized for it. He could have done this in many ways that were far more discreet and yet he chose to ruin a lot of people’s day.
Simple analysis here:
What would have happened if the gentleman had been black? Twenty-to-life?
The outcome here is nothing short of disgraceful.
The city may not charge him, but should send him a bill, for the police and emergency personnel resources he wasted. Otherwise we (New Yorkers, not this Texan) all pay for it through our taxes.
Sam your just to kind. But at least
we know one thing for sure the
deceased is “Not” turning in his
grave do to all the sad turns of
events…..😱
He should be charged and given a VERY stiff penalty. He caused fear and Financial problems. He was responsible for the cancellation of two performances and ruined the evening for thousands of opera fans. People travel from all over to have the chance to see an opera at the Met. Many of those people may not have the opportunity again. It is not right that he gets away with a slap on the wrist!!
No charges? What about all of the people who lost money from this selfish idiots stunt? Ticket holders, The MET itself, musicians who could not retrieve their instruments, crew members, restaurants and their employees in the neighborhood, and of course the NYC taxpayers. This clown deserved to be charged and to be sued by The MET and its customers!
His is an amazing lack of common sense and discretion. It’s as though he saw no need, in a post 9/11 New York City, to think this through or what kind of consequences and alarm he could cause. But then, maybe the world is just his oyster and, like, wow, we should all just get over it, right?
If lack of common sense were a criminal offence there wouldn’t be enough prisons or jails in the nation to hold the convicted.
Yes. Get over it.
Boy you people are vindictive.
What exactly would punishing this guy actually accomplish, other than granting a pound of flesh to those inclined to demand it?
It is called deterrence. Causes other fools not to pull the same stunts. This is hire civilizations function.
“What exactly would punishing this guy actually accomplish, other than granting a pound of flesh to those inclined to demand it?”
At the very least, deterrence. Taking no action against this man sends a loud signal to everyone else that it’s perfectly OK to throw any old stuff into the orchestra pit at the Met. Maybe next time it really *will* be anthrax — how will we know until it’s too late?
Cato, thanks.
Common sense and common courtesy are precious.
BTW, in thanking you, I don’t ass-u-me you agree with everything I wrote regarding this incident;)
Um, holding the person responsible, whose ignorance is inexcusable and not credible in post 9/11 NYC, (Trump should pay this guy for the favor) maybe we could send his pals who smugly think they are above the law a message….
(Other terrorist types (whatever that means) can also thank him…for so many reasons, including crying wolf and costing people with New York Values (whatever that means) to suffer.)
And I hope that if visitors are compensated, they can use their reimbursement to travel to Disneyland or someplace more relaxing. Sheesh, New York, what a way to do business.
Your sympathy is his reward.
Unity For Terrorists! Guess what? They come in all colors, and even by southern white folks!
Vindictive? To a guy whose freedom to crap wherever he pleases and you scoop his poop? How disrespectful this gesture was for his friend…
He is not a child, and truly not innocent. And for those who would say he needs help? Try behavior modification.
Sheesh NYC, what a way to do business!
Let’s show some respect for all of our crisis management people, and even those who fight for this country, or are *gAsP* in law enforcement.
This joker does need to be taken very seriously, as many have been forced to take his actions to heart.
1:07 I bet hes wishing he kept at this dream of being sontmhieg OTHER than a race car driver cuz we all know! IN SOVIET RUSSIA, CAR CRASHES YOU!
Great way to honor his mentor. Now his ashes are sitting in a vacuum trash bag on a NYC street corner.