John Hinckley Jr. Reflects on His Past Actions and Jodie Foster

John Hinckley Jr., infamously known for shooting former President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has expressed wishes for the well-being of actress Jodie Foster. Hinckley, who targeted Reagan in an effort to impress Foster, stated, “I just wish Jodie Foster well. I don’t really see her movies, but I wish her well, and I know she’s doing quite well. And that’s all I can say: I wish Jodie well and hope she has a good life.”

Hinckley, now 71, shared these thoughts on the “Mark Joseph Show,” as reported by Entertainment Weekly. He recalled his delusional belief that shooting Reagan would lead to a lifelong union with Foster, known for her role in “Silence of the Lambs.” “I wanted to have like this union with Jodie Foster and live the rest of my life with her,” Hinckley explained.

At the time, he believed Foster would “join me wherever I was,” whether that meant being in jail or a hospital. His obsession with Foster began after seeing her in the movie “Taxi Driver,” fueling the misguided belief that the shooting would capture her attention.

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity after the 1981 attack, which gravely injured President Reagan. Reagan suffered a broken rib, punctured lung, and internal bleeding. Former White House press secretary James Brady was shot in the head, with injuries that eventually contributed to his death years later, ruled a homicide. Two other men were also wounded.

Following the trial, Hinckley was committed to a psychiatric hospital. He was released in 2016 and by 2022, was living in Virginia without court restrictions. During the show, Hinckley admitted to Joseph, “She definitely could have been a target. It’s just fate went the other way.” He acknowledged that Foster herself could have been targeted instead of Reagan but “fate turned out” differently.

In a 2022 interview with CBS, Hinckley publicly apologized for his actions, stating, “I shot four people, and I’m sorry to the Reagan family, the Brady family, the other families of the victims. I’m sorry to Jodie Foster for bringing her into this.”