Many reality TV stars had already crossed the threshold of the law just like
The Simple Life’s
Paris Hilton and
Laguna Beach’s Jason Wahler. Surprisingly, another TV icon had joined the bandwagon and he came in the form of
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host
Ty Pennington.
On Saturday, May 5, Pennington was arrested at 12:35 am in Los Angeles and was charged with a misdemeanor for driving under the influence. According to reports, Pennington had an blood alcohol level of .14, which was over the legal limit of .08 in California. In less than three hours, he was released over a bail amounting to $5,000.
Following the incident, the
Extreme Makeover host issued an apology in a statement released by his publicist. The statement said: "We all make mistakes, however this is about accountability. Under no circumstances should anyone consume alcohol while driving. I could have jeopardized the lives of others and I am grateful there was no accident or harm done to anyone. This was my wake-up call. I also want to apologize to my fans, ABC Television and my design team for my lapse in judgment and the embarrassment I have caused."
According to People, a court date was scheduled for Monday, June 4.
Pennington, a 41-year old native of Marietta, Georgia, worked as a model prior to his hosting on
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. He was also a carpenter on the reality show
Trading Spaces. He received his undergraduate degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Atlanta and took some painting and sculpture classes at the Atlanta College of Art. In addition, he also published a book entitled
Ty's Tricks: Home Repair Secrets Plus Cheap and
Easy Projects to Transform Any Room, which is a guide on home improvement.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: RealityTV World
(Photo Courtesy of TV Guide)