John Hinckley Jr. Reflects on Past Actions and Jodie Foster

John Hinckley Jr., known for his attempt to assassinate former President Ronald Reagan in 1981, recently expressed his wishes for actress Jodie Foster. ‘I just wish Jodie Foster well,’ Hinckley said, clarifying that he does not follow her movies but wishes her a successful life.

During a preview of the ‘Mark Joseph Show’ featured by Entertainment Weekly, Hinckley, now 71, discussed his past state of mind. He spoke about his delusional belief back in 1981 that he would spend his life with Foster, the star of ‘Silence of the Lambs.’ Hinckley remarked, ‘I wanted to have this union with Jodie Foster and live the rest of my life with her, although those thoughts were delusional.’

‘I didn’t know if I was going to be in jail or hospital or what, but after things settled down, I had this notion that she was going to join me,’ Hinckley recounted.

Hinckley’s obsession began after seeing Foster in ‘Taxi Driver.’ He initially thought that shooting Reagan would capture her attention. Reagan was left with severe injuries, while others, including former White House press secretary James Brady, were also harmed. Brady’s injuries led to his death years later, which was ruled a homicide. Two others were wounded during the incident.

Hinckley was declared not guilty by reason of insanity and spent time in a psychiatric hospital. He was released in 2016 and has lived in Virginia without restrictions since 2022.

Hinckley admitted that Foster could have been harmed during his delusions. ‘She could have been a target,’ he noted, ‘but as fate turned out, it was Reagan instead.’

In a 2022 interview with CBS, Hinckley apologized, expressing regret for his actions. ‘I shot four people, and I’m sorry to the Reagan family, the Brady family, and the other victims,’ he stated. He also apologized to Foster for involving her in the events.