While Jared Padalecki does tons of stunts on Supernatural, this was not one of them. The actor had to assure fans that he wasn’t the man scaling Trump Tower after people on social media pointed out that the climber looked very similar to Padalecki.
The Internet was quickly captivated by the climber, who was working his way up the side of the midtown Manhattan building using suction cups on Wednesday, August 10. A massive police presence surrounded the building and several people live-streamed the mind-blowing stunt. After nearly three hours, NYPD apprehended him and pulled him through a window to safety around the 21st floor.
“I would like to wish #BizarroJarpad the best of luck in climbing the Trump Tower,” Padalecki, 34, quipped in a tweet on Wednesday after he got wind of his look-alike.
Fans must have misinterpreted the joke, because the CW hunk later posted a message on Facebook to straighten out any confusion. “To clear things up, this is NOT me trying to scale the Trump Tower in NYC. I am safe and sound in Vancouver filming #Supernatural. So please stop asking,” he wrote, adding a wink face emoji.
The real climber was later identified by the NYPD as 20-year-old Steve from Virginia during a press conference, but his last name has not yet been released. He apparently sought a meeting with Donald Trump but had no intentions of harming the Republican presidential candidate. Steve had previously posted a strange, pro-Trump YouTube video titled “Message to Mr. Trump (Why I Climbed Your Tower)” and said, “I am an independent researcher seeking a private audience with you to discuss an important matter … The reason I climbed your tower was to get your attention … As for anyone else who is watching please help this video go viral … and be sure to get out and vote for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election.”
Meanwhile, Padalecki, who plays Sam Winchester on Supernatural, is shooting the 12th season of the CW hit show. He recently wrapped filming on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, in which he returns as Dean Forester, Rory Gilmore’s first boyfriend. The highly anticipated Netflix reboot will launch on Friday, November 25.
