Latest news with #JamesRondeau
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Passenger who stripped naked on flight reveals their ‘regret'
A prominent director was detained in Germany last month after drunkenly stripping naked on a United Airlines flight — but will now return to his high-paying post following an internal investigation. The Art Institute of Chicago's director James Rondeau is set to return to work on Monday after the humiliating April 18 incident forced him to take a voluntary leave from the nationally renowned museum — where he pulls in over $USD1 ($AUD1.56 million a year, The New York Post reported. 'I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and me and on my colleagues,' Rondeau said in a statement to CBS News. 'I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue furthering its mission.' Rondeau was flying from Chicago to Munich when he was taken into custody upon landing for reportedly disrobing mid-flight after consuming alcohol and prescription medication. The shameful episode prompted the museum — where Rondeau is the highest-paid employee — to launch an independent probe during his self-imposed absence, the outlet reported. Despite the scandal, museum officials said they are confident he can carry on leading the institution. 'Board leadership of the Art Institute of Chicago has conducted an independent investigation of this incident and is confident in James Rondeau's leadership and ability to continue as the President and Director of the museum,' a spokesperson for the institution told the outlet. Rondeau was appointed to his role in 2016, according to the institute's website. He joined the museum — which features about 300,000 pieces of art — in 1998 as an associate curator.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chicago museum director stripped mid-air after booze and pills, but still has his million-dollar role
The Art Institute of Chicago's director, James Rondeau, is set to return to his position Monday after being temporarily sidelined due to a bizarre and embarrassing incident on an international flight that saw him reportedly strip naked mid-air. Rondeau, who earns more than $1 million annually as the museum's highest-paid employee, was detained by German authorities on April 18 upon landing in Munich. According to reports, he became intoxicated after consuming alcohol and prescription medication, eventually disrobing in-flight aboard a United Airlines flight from Chicago. The 55-year-old museum chief was taken into custody by German police after the plane touched down, sparking an internal crisis at one of the nation's most respected art institutions. Rondeau later took a voluntary leave of absence while the museum launched an independent investigation into the incident. 'I deeply regret this incident' In a statement released through CBS News, Rondeau expressed remorse for the ordeal, "I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and me and on my colleagues. I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue furthering its mission." Despite the public embarrassment, the Art Institute has decided to reinstate Rondeau, citing confidence in his leadership. Museum backs director's return "Board leadership of the Art Institute of Chicago has conducted an independent investigation of this incident and is confident in James Rondeau's leadership and ability to continue as the president and director of the museum," a museum spokesperson told CBS News. Rondeau has been with the Art Institute since 1998, when he began as an associate curator. He was appointed president and director in 2016, overseeing the museum's vast collection of more than 300,000 artworks.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chicago museum boss held by police after 'drunkenly stripping on plane' to return to the $1million-a-year job
The Art Institute of Chicago announced that its director is expected to return to work after he was shockingly arrested for allegedly stripping down on a flight to Germany. James Rondeau is set to go back to work on Monday following an embarrassing display on a United Airlines flight to Munich from Chicago on April 18. Police were called as the flight landed following reports of Rondeau - the institute's highest-paid employee, making over $1million in 2023 - stripping off his clothes after drinking alcohol and taking prescription medication. Rondeau, who has since been on 'voluntary leave' from the museum, released a statement apologizing for the incident. 'I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and me and on my colleagues,' Rondeau said, according to the New York Times. 'I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue furthering its mission.' The museum began an independent investigation into the incident, and said at the time that it 'takes this very seriously'. In a statement to the NYT on Thursday, the institute said that board leadership is 'confident in James Rondeau's leadership and ability to continue as the president and director'. In a statement on Thursday, the institute said that board leadership is 'confident in James Rondeau's leadership and ability to continue as the president and director' 'I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and me and on my colleagues,' Rondeau said in a statement Rondeau was appointed to the position in 2016 after he worked with the institution in 1998 as associate curator of contemporary art. A prominent collector, Pamela Joyner, stepped down from the board not two weeks ago to focus on other board in New York and San Francisco, she told the NYT. Joyner told the outlet she felt it inappropriate to weigh in Rondeau's controversy, but said 'that board has work ahead of it that I don't have time to do effectively'.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Art Institute of Chicago director James Rondeau stays in role after bizarre plane incident
Art Institute director speaks for first time through his lawyer since bizarre incident on a plane Art Institute director speaks for first time through his lawyer since bizarre incident on a plane Art Institute director speaks for first time through his lawyer since bizarre incident on a plane The Art Institute of Chicago announced that director James Rondeau will remain in his role and return to work in June following a bizarre incident on a flight in April. Sources told CBS News Chicago that Rondeau was a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Munich and was taken into custody after police were called to the plane for reports of a passenger stripping off his clothes. Sources said the incident happened after Rondeau drank alcohol and took prescription medication. The Art Institute said Rondeau was voluntarily taking time off amid an independent investigation into the incident. Thursday, a spokesperson for the museum said Rondeau will return to work on Monday. "Board leadership of the Art Institute of Chicago has conducted an independent investigation of this incident and is confident in James Rondeau's leadership and ability to continue as the President and Director of the museum," the spokesperson said in a statement. Rondeau himself released a statement on the incident as well, writing, "I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum and on my colleagues. I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue furthering its mission." Please note: The above video is from a previous report.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
German authorities say Art Institute of Chicago director's case still open after bizarre plane incident
German authorities said the case against Art Institute of Chicago director James Rondeau remains open after a bizarre incident onboard a flight to Munich as he spoke out for the first time through his attorney. Rondeau is voluntarily taking time away from work after police were called to the plane. Sources tell CBS News Chicago Rondeau stripped off his clothes after he drank alcohol and took prescription medication. In their latest update, German authorities said this is not a closed case and prosecutors said they are still waiting to get the police file. It's possible the case could be dropped, and it's also possible Rondeau could have to return to Germany for a trial. Possible penalties cold include a fine and up to a year in jail. Rondeau responded to the allegations for the first time with a statement issued though his attorney which said, "The suggestion made by CBS News that this matter remains open and ongoing with German authorities is false. This matter was concluded with the payment of a fine after which I boarded my connecting flight with the matter behind me. This was the result of an adverse reaction to prescription medication. I regret this occurred, but I am eager to move forward and to return to the great work of the Art Institute of Chicago." CBS News Chicago has been in contact with German authorities on many occasions since our original report, and as recently as Friday morning prosecutors told us, "A decision can only be made once the police investigation has been completed and the file has been submitted to the public prosecutor's office for a decision. This can take several weeks due to the large number of cases to be processed at Munich Airport. There is nothing unusual about this or the police's approach." The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the premier art museums in the country. Its assets approach $2 million, including approximately 300,000 pieces of art at its sprawling campus. The museum attracts 1.5 million people a year. Rondeau's salary is more than $1 million a year. Please note: The above video is from CBS News Chicago's original report on this incident
