The wax statues at Madame Tussaud's are creepy enough as they come, but what would you do if one of them suddenly came to life?
Such is the fate of several visitors of the famed West Hollywood landmark when they encountered a life-like wax likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some of them, upon approaching the statue dressed in the iconic Terminator costume, complete with the wounds on his face, commented on how real it looked.
What these unsuspecting visitors didn't know was that they weren't taking a picture with a wax statue. They were taking a picture with the man himself. And in a fraction of a second, they were bewildered to find out they were standing just inches away from the real Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he was reaching out to them, talking and breathing like the human being that he actually is.
As expected, many of them yelped, screamed and jumped away in momentary fear. One toddler carried by his mother broke into a sob after his own mom ran in fright. But after the initial freak-out, many visitors were delighted to find out they were standing next to California's former Governator himself.
And as if Schwarzenegger was not finished trolling fans just yet, he went out on the streets of Tinseltown to his own star on Hollywood Boulevard, muttering to the perplexed amusement of those around him, "Who is this Arnold Schwarzenegger?" and "Please do not bump my selfie stick." The highlight of his walk around Hollywood is when he meets a man who impersonates him.
The prank was done all in good fun, but Schwarzenegger has a deeper cause for putting one on fans. The 67-year-old star is using the publicity around his upcoming Terminator Genisys movie to promote his charity and raise funds for After-School All-Stars, which provides comprehensive after-school programs for low-income, at-risk youth in 15 cities across the United States.
Schwarzenegger is soliciting donations of at least $10 to go to the development of these programs for the charities' beneficiaries. In exchange, donors will receive multiple entries to a raffle draw, where the winners will get the chance to attend the premiere of Terminator Genisys with a friend and Schwarzengger.
"Oh, did I mention we'll drink Schnapps together at the afterparty to celebrate our big day and my return as the Terminator?" says Schwarzengger. "Hasta la vista, baby."
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Photo: Zero Emission Resource Organization | Flickr
