Dog the Bounty Hunter Shows No Mercy to Winter Park Florida Fans
Fans Miffed About Being Dissed by Duane and Beth Chapman
The Borders store in Winter Park, Florida was the last leg of Dog the Bounty Hunter book signing tour promoting Chapman's second book, Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given. My friend, Kim, and I drove 62 miles to meet The Dog and arrived at Borders bookstore at noon. She had previously purchased Chapman's book, You Can Run, But You Can't Hide, and was told Dog would only autograph his new book. This was the beginning of our disappointment.
At 1:45 p.m., a Borders staff member announced Dog the Bounty Hunter was running late and would contact the store when he was ten minutes from arrival. Unfortunately, they didn't bother to mention where he was at or how long it would be.
A Dog fan, who was standing in front of us, stated her friend worked at the condos where the Chapman family was staying. She informed us they were lodging in Kissimmee which was about a forty minute drive from Winter Park.
To keep fans interested, Borders staff informed the impatient and overheated group that we would be in for a special treat, as Dog's wife, Beth Chapman, and two sons, Duane Lee and Leland, would also be making an appearance.
At 2:45 p.m., the Chapman's tour bus pulled up in front of the Winter Park Borders bookstore. Bounty hunter fans were filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand they were angry that Dog and his family arrived nearly two hours late for the book signing. On the other hand, they were happy to finally meet him. It just goes to show celebrities are always forgiven even when they possess zero etiquette.
The Chapman family finally departed the bus at 3:00 p.m. with their entourage of body guards and film crew. We were instructed to turn off the flash on our cameras and to take photos while standing in line because Dog the Bounty Hunter would not be posing with his fans. Additionally, we were not allowed to take photos once we arrived at the book signing table.
After the Chapman family made their way through the crowd and arrived at the back of the bookstore, Beth Chapman announced that she, Duane Lee and Leland were there to support Dog and would not be signing autographs or posing for pictures.
Beth also stated they were selling 'meet-and-greet' tickets for $50 per person to attend a private event at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar which would take place between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. that day. Fans were encouraged to purchase autographed Dog the Bounty Hunter memorabilia which was available inside the tour bus.
At 3:15 p.m. the book signing finally got underway. Within minutes, Beth was working the crowd, providing autographs and posing for photos while Dog, Duane Lee and Leland remained at the table. The fans were treated well and everyone seemed to be having a good time. However, Kim and I, along with dozens of other fans, were confused as only moments before we had been informed this was NOT going to happen.
We later discovered the individuals receiving special treatment were members of Dog the Bounty Hunter fan club. Rumor has it these fans paid $75 to have their photo taken and shake hands with Duane Chapman.
At 4:05 p.m., Dog, Beth, Duane Lee and Leland disappeared from the bookstore. Neither the Chapman's nor Borders staff members said a word about where The Dog had gone or if he was returning.
Fans still waiting in line were getting restless and began vocalizing their displeasure. Several people threw up their hands in disgust and walked out. It was bad enough the Chapman's arrived two hours late, but to leave their fans without a word was inexcusable. Needless to say, fans were miffed about being dissed by The Dog.
About fifteen minutes later the reality show celebrities returned. Beth began barking orders and telling everyone they needed to get in line if they wanted their books signed. Considering everyone had been standing in line for hours, we had no clue what she wanted us to do. There was no place to go because of the bookshelves, boom mics and TV crew.
Apparently, Beth Chapman wasn't pleased with the fans and her voice increased by at least 30 decibels. Her tone sounded more like she was on a bounty hunt rounding up criminals instead of respecting the fans who had patiently waited for hours to obtain a measly autograph.
Instead of allowing guests to walk up to the table and meet Duane "Dog" Chapman, we were ordered to stand single file, open the newly purchased book to a specific page, and turn the book upside down so The Dog could easily sign it.
By this time, Kim had become overheated, wasn't feeling well and went to sit down for a moment. As Murphy's Law would have it, Dog came around just moments after Kim left. When it was my turn to obtain The Dog's autograph he mumbled "Aloha" under his breath and was only focused on scribbling his name in my book. No eye contact. No handshake. Nothing. I asked if he would sign Kim's book and he was gracious enough to do so.
I had two objectives when going to meet Dog the Bounty Hunter. First, meeting him was on my Bucket List. Second, I wanted to tell Dog how much my mother adored him.
My mother was a huge Dog fan. A few days before she passed away, mom and I watched a 6-hour Dog the Bounty Hunter marathon. I wanted to thank him for bringing a ray of sunshine to my dying mother.
It was such a whirlwind when he signed my book that I barely had time to ask him to sign Kim's book, let alone thank him on behalf of my mom. I gave the man over five hours of my time and purchased his book, yet he couldn't give me ten seconds or look me in the eye. What a disappointment.
The clincher of the Dog book signing fiasco came when Beth Chapman walked up to me with Sharpie in hand and started to take Dog's book and sign it. Once she realized it wasn't her book, Beth glared at me and barked, "I'm NOT signing that book." I glared back and said, "I don't want YOUR autograph."
Beth Chapman is by far the rudest person I have ever met. I didn't ask her to sign the book and had no intention of doing so. She had made it perfectly clear that she was not signing any books that day.
Being two hours late, taking a break after fifty minutes, snarling at fans, and taking tone with me about signing an autograph I didn't want in the first place, completely changed my perception of these so-called celebrities. They made it perfectly clear the only fans they are interested in interacting with are the cash-paying members of their fan club or those who spend money on meet and greet tickets.
The best part of the day was meeting Dog the Bounty Hunter fans. People from all walks of life were there to meet the man who has been shown mercy several times in his life and shows mercy to the criminals he captures. Too bad he and his family couldn't show the same mercy to the fans who stood in line for hours and purchased his book. One thing is certain. I am no longer of a fan of Dog the Bounty Hunter and will find a new show to entertain me on Wednesday evenings.
Published by Kathy Browning - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Kathy Browning is a freelance writer, food blogger, and author of "The Diva Diet" cookbook. She is the founder of The Cheap Gourmet and enjoys sharing her passion for cooking with others at www.TheCheapGourm... View profile
Reality TV Yea and NayThe double-edged sword that is reality television.
Dog the Bounty Hunter's Racial Slurs Result in Pulled TV Ads on A&E Netw...A&E was planning a nine-episode marathon of "Dog The Bounty Hunter" Oct. 3, but network officials have yet to make a final decision on whether they will air the show at all. Cu...- My Top Five TV ShowsMy favorite tv shows
- A&E Must Think Long and Hard About Return of Dog the Bounty Hunter Show Following...A&E Television has suspended production of its Dog the Bounty Hunter Show following the expletive laced racist tirade of Duane Chapman aka Dog the Bounty Hunter Series.
- Four Prominent Blacks Sound Off About Dog the Bounty HunterThe use of the "n" word by Duane Chapman, the star of the A&E hit "Dog The Bounty Hunter" is rocking the United States. Hear how four prominent Blacks feel about his words and what they think should happen next.
- Is Dog "The Bounty Hunter" Chapman a Racist?
- Dog the Bounty Hunter: American Hero or International Criminal?
- Dog the Bounty Hunter Season 4
- NJ Woman Adopts "The Dog" Chapman as Pet Cause
- Dog the Bounty Hunter
- Bounty Hunter Dog Gone
- Duane "Dog" Chapman Set to Be Extradited to Mexico
- Reality TV Celebrities arrive 2 hours late for book signing
- Beth Chapman treats fans like the bounties she hunts
- The best part of Dog the Bounty Hunter book signing was meeting the fans
20 Comments
Post a Commentsorry you had such a bad time.
my husband and grandchild went to the same book signing and the chapman family went out of there way to speak with my grandchild and took pictures with her and signed a folder for her because she ask to go see them on her b-day. we are not part of the fan club and did not pay anything extra we just purchased the book the night before and was given a ticket number for a place in line.
the chapman's are only human so don't be to hard on them .
Well, like they say, "everyone has one" and obviously you all have a very poor opinion of the Chapman crew. That's a pity when they do so much good and have the respect of law enforcement, teachers, fireman, socialogists, not to mention their fan base, that may or may not understand that we only get a glimpse of their life on the 30-1 hour show. But the people that actually know them and have done so well after the fact and with Duane's history, I just can't imagine how you can be so negative. I think you need to do some research, like I have and you just might change your mind. I am so sorry that you had such a bad time. But let me give you a clue; in most nay, all book signings, "unless you know the guy", they only sign the book you buy from the establishment that has put them up. You don't understand what a big, huge deal it is to put this kind of thing on. The retailer stands to offend people that are only wanting to buy something and get o
I truly have never understood the big attraction to this posse. Dog and Beth have huge egos and they are constantly bragging about their "fans", "their people" and going on about how they change lives. Give me a break. This is a family who makes a very health living by posting bond for criminals; wife beaters, felons, crack heads, etc. They don't change lives but I guess they arrogantly believe that because they have a 5 minute "caught on camera" tough love talk, that that person will now be inspired to just change their whole life. It's all for show and all for TV. And Beth bragging about how she's this big Savior on Twitter, give me a break. All for show and publicity and to boost the ego. White trash celeb-wannabes.
Well, it seems you might have been the only one with the issues Kathy! I think you need to read the book and understand more what your Mother saw in the man instead of casting stones with your words!
I am so dissapointed in the Chapman family. We have been fans for as long as they have had their show. To heard how bad they treat thier fans, really gets under my skin. I hope to see them the next time we are in Honolulu.
LLK, I'm glad to hear you had such a good time. I wish I could say the same. Perhaps if the Chapman's had arrived on time instead of 2 hours late, Border's management wouldn't have been upset with them and those of us who had been in line for hours wouldn't have been so offended by their behavior; particularly Beth.
I went to this book signing and to the meet and greet with the Chapman's. The reason they stepped out was because the management at Border's were mad at them and wanted all the fans out of there because we were in the way of their customers. What Border's did not remember is that there was many people who not only had bought Dog's book but also purchased other things as well. At the meet and greet they were all as nice as they could be. It was awesome so dit and talk with Leland and Duane Lee one on one. This was a once in a lifetime experience.
WOW! I was iffy about them and finally decided they were fake long ago. Hawaii has major issues w/drugs and poverty and his family is getting rich off of it. His racist outburst and false attempted murder claim don't help his image either.
That aside, between all of them, they could have taken shifts mingling at the book signing.
No, there has been no apology. I seriously doubt that Dog or his wife give two hoots about me or the rest of the disappointed fans.
I was just wondering since this story is all over the internet if you had received an apology.