Ronnie Radke Busted Stealing Costco Samples

Falling In Reverse singer Ronnie Radke was detained Sunday afternoon after allegedly clearing out an entire Costco sample station at the Las Vegas location on South Decatur Boulevard. Witnesses say the 41-year-old frontman entered wearing full stage leathers, aviators, and a lanyard that read “VIP – No Rules,” then proceeded to treat the free food trays like a backstage rider.

Security footage, now viral on X (formerly Twitter), shows Radke approaching the sample lady with the same intensity he brings to a chorus. “Give me the good shit,” he reportedly demanded. “The spinach ones. And the little sausages. I’m on tour. My body needs this.”

The employee, later identified as 62-year-old Linda Morales, initially smiled and offered him a toothpick. Radke took six. Then twelve. Then he began stacking them directly into the pockets of his leather jacket like he was smuggling contraband across the border. When Morales politely asked him to slow down, Radke launched into an a cappella version of “Popular Monster,” using a sample spoon as a makeshift microphone.

“I was just getting into the second verse when she hit the panic button,” Radke later told officers, according to the police report. “This is censorship. Costco doesn’t understand art.”

By the time store security arrived, Radke had consumed or pocketed an estimated 47 items, including an entire sleeve of chocolate chunk cookies he claimed were “for vocal warm-up.” He also attempted to return a half-eaten rotisserie chicken to the membership counter for a full refund, arguing it “didn’t hit like the samples did.”

Store manager Derek Langford described the scene as “the most theatrical shoplifting incident we’ve had since the guy who tried to steal a pallet of Kirkland vodka by hiding it under his shirt.” Langford added that Radke kept yelling “This is my stage now!” while being escorted to the loss prevention office.

Radke’s manager, in a hastily issued statement, tried to frame the incident as method acting. “Ronnie has always been deeply committed to his craft. The new album explores themes of excess, consumption, and fighting the system. Costco samples were simply the perfect metaphor. We stand by our artist 100 percent, though we do regret the specific loss of the mini meatballs.”

Falling In Reverse’s label has not yet commented, though sources close to the band say several members are quietly updating their LinkedIn profiles.

Fans, predictably, split into two camps. The #FreeRadke movement trended within hours, with supporters arguing that “samples are basically public domain if you scream loud enough.” One particularly unhinged reply read: “If Ronnie can’t have free samples, none of us can. Burn it all down.” The opposing side posted memes of Radke photoshopped onto the cover of Nevermind holding a tray of chicken skewers.

In a now-deleted tweet from jail, Radke wrote: “Costco tried to silence the voice of a generation. The samples were fire though. New single ‘Sample This (And That)’ dropping Friday. Pre-save or you’re part of the problem.”

Legal experts say the charges could range from petty theft to something more creative if prosecutors decide to classify the rotisserie chicken incident as “felony poultry fraud.” Radke’s lawyer, a man who has represented several rock stars in similar “creative differences with retail” cases, issued a brief statement: “My client was simply testing the limits of American consumer culture. We look forward to clearing his name in court and possibly turning the trial into a pay-per-view event.”

The incident has already inspired merchandise. Bootleg T-shirts reading “I Got Busted At Costco With Ronnie” sold out on Etsy within four hours. One enterprising fan started a GoFundMe titled “Help Ronnie Buy His Own Samples” that has raised $4,200 so far, mostly in the form of digital gift cards to competing warehouse clubs.

As of press time, Costco has issued a nationwide ban on Radke entering any of its 600-plus locations. In response, the singer announced plans for a “Rebellion Tour” consisting of pop-up performances in Costco parking lots across the country, where he will hand out his own “anti-establishment samples” (reportedly just regular hot dogs with the word “FREE” Sharpied on the wrapper).

Whether this marks the beginning of a new era in rock star activism or simply the most expensive case of the munchies in music history remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the sample lady has already updated her résumé.