Wikimedia CommonsVincent Don Vito Margera became a fan favorite for his appearances on Viva La Bam and Jackass.For years, Vincent Margera made millions of MTV viewers laugh as Don Vito, the foul-mouthed, often unintelligible uncle on Viva La Bam. More often the target of Bam Margeras pranks than the one pulling them, he became one of the most recognizable personalities in the Jackass franchise.But in August 2006, Margeras television career came to an abrupt end when he was accused of inappropriately touching three pre-teen girls during a skateboarding event at a Colorado mall.A jury later convicted Margera of sexually assaulting two of the girls. The case not only ended his time in the spotlight but also resulted in one of modern historys most unusual criminal sentences: A judge barred him from portraying Don Vito, the reality TV persona that had made him famous.So, how did a beloved television personality become a convicted sex offender? This is the story of Vincent Don Vito Margera and the crime that destroyed his career.Becoming A Reality TV StarLong before MTV audiences knew him as Don Vito, Vincent Roy Margera lived a quiet life in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Born on July 3, 1956, he was the older brother of Phil Margera, whose son Bam would later become one of the biggest stars of MTVs Jackass era. Vincent never married and spent most of his life out of the spotlight.That changed in the late 1990s when Bam launched the CKY (Camp Kill Yourself) video series, a mix of skateboarding, dangerous stunts, pranks, and crude comedy that developed a cult following. Vincent Margera occasionally appeared alongside Bams friends and family, though he was usually the victim of the groups pranks rather than the one carrying them out.Despite having no acting experience, Margera quickly became a stand-out character. He earned the nickname Don Vito because his slurred and often unintelligible speech brought to mind Vito Corleone from The Godfather. Entertainment Tonight/YouTubeVincent Margera and his nephew, Bam Margera, entertained MTV audiences with their pranks in the early 2000s.When MTV turned Jackass into a hit series in 2000, Bams popularity exploded. Three years later, the network gave him his own spin-off, Viva La Bam, transforming Vincent Margera from a quirky family member into one of reality televisions most recognizable personalities.The show frequently mocked his speech, even adding intentionally nonsensical subtitles because viewers often couldnt understand what he was saying. Episodes also poked fun at his appearance and mannerisms, leading some to question whether the humor had crossed into exploitation.Despite the criticism, Don Vito became a fan favorite. As his popularity grew, Vincent Margera appeared in other projects, including rapper Redmans music video for Put It Down and the direct-to-DVD film Dunn and Vitos Rock Tour with fellow Jackass star Ryan Dunn.But as Don Vitos fame grew, Vincent Margeras personal life began to unravel.The Sexual Assault Allegations Against Don VitoOn Aug. 18, 2006, Margera attended a skateboarding event and autograph signing at Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, Colorado. But what began as a routine promotional appearance quickly went wrong. Witnesses later reported that Margera was heavily intoxicated and behaved inappropriately throughout the event.Margera then reportedly fondled three girls, including two 12-year-olds. Police arrested him shortly after and charged him with multiple counts of sexual assault on a child.The allegations made national headlines because of Margeras role on Viva La Bam and his connection to the Jackass franchise. Prosecutors argued that his behavior was fueled by extreme intoxication.This man was out of control during this public event, prosecutor Jim Stanley told jurors, as reported by the Denver Post in 2007. He was so intoxicated that he peed his pants while with these children.Jefferson County Sheriffs OfficeVincent Don Vito Margera reportedly fondled the breasts and buttocks of three young girls in 2006.Margeras trial began in October 2007. Represented by attorney Pamela Mackey who had previously defended Kobe Bryant in his sexual assault case Margera did not deny that inappropriate contact had occurred. Instead, the defense argued that Margera had simply been acting as his television persona, Don Vito.Mackey described Don Vito as a loud, vulgar, and physically expressive benign bumbler whose exaggerated television behavior may have been misunderstood off-screen. But the jurors rejected that argument. They convicted Margera on two counts of sexual assault on a child while acquitting him on a third count.When the verdict was read, Margera collapsed in the courtroom, Denver news station KUSA reported at the time.MTV/IMDbVincent Margera in an episode of Viva La Bam.You might as well kill me now! he shouted, as he thrashed around on the floor.He fell hard enough that everyone court security, deputies rushed over to make sure he was alright, Pam Russell of the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office later recalled. Then he began to flail, move his arms and legs and yell statements, just in general to the court, that sort of thing, about his guilt or innocence angry statements, including some expletives.Although Margera faced the possibility of years behind bars, a judge instead sentenced him to 10 years of probation and ordered him to register as a sex offender and seek treatment for alcoholism. But the most unusual part of his sentence had nothing to do with prison or probation.Vincent Margeras Final Years And DeathIn addition to his main sentence, a judge also barred Vincent Margera from publicly portraying Don Vito for the duration of his probation.This restriction was remarkable because Don Vito wasnt a fictional character he was simply an exaggerated version of Vincent Margera himself. The court concluded that continuing to perform the persona could interfere with his rehabilitation.The ruling effectively ended Margeras television career. Producers removed his appearances from the upcoming movie Jackass Number Two, and Don Vito never returned to the spotlight.After his conviction, Margera largely disappeared from public life. Then, in October 2015, he collapsed at his home in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He fell into a coma, briefly regained consciousness, and then died from liver and kidney failure on Nov. 15, 2015, at age 59.RIP Don Vito. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/YwhNdAAPA8 Johnny Knoxville (@realjknoxville) November 15, 2015 Margeras death closed the final chapter on one of the most recognizable personalities of MTVs Jackass era. As Don Vito, he became a cult television figure known for his slurred speech, outrageous behavior, and his role as the frequent target of Bam Margeras pranks.But his legacy also reflects the darker side of early reality television. Even the court struggled to separate Margera from the character he portrayed: Where did Don Vito end and Vincent Margera begin?After reading about the life and crimes of Vincent Margera, discover some of vintage Hollywoods biggest scandals. Then, go inside the tragic death of Ryan Dunn.The post Vincent Margera, The <em>Jackass</em> Star Who Was Cut From The Franchise For Assaulting Young Girls appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Public DomainPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt delivering his 1944 State of the Union Address, which outlined his Second Bill of Rights.During his 1944 State of the Union Address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced an agenda that both polarized Americans and inspired future politicians for generations to come: the Second Bill of Rights.His plan, which was also known as the Bill of Economic Rights, was meant to raise the standard of living and provide social and financial security for all Americans. Roosevelt wanted to guarantee every citizen employment, housing, medical care, and education.The president tried to implement his agenda by assigning Executive Branch personnel to Senate committees, but this resulted in such intense backlash that lawmakers passed an act providing funds for Congress to staff its own committees. The Second Bill of Rights never came to fruition. Roosevelt died before his administration could submit any actual legislation, and subsequent presidents had more conservative policies. But in Roosevelts wake, politicians and activists like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Bernie Sanders championed similar agendas that would provide equality in the pursuit of happiness.The Presidency Of Franklin D. RooseveltIn 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was serving his third term in office. The nation was in the midst of World War II, and many citizens were still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression.FDR Presidential Library & MuseumPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt in June 1936.Roosevelt had been serving in public office since 1910, when he was elected to the New York State Senate. He went on to become the assistant secretary of the Navy, and in 1928, he took office as the governor of New York. His term began on Jan. 1, 1929 just 10 months before Black Tuesday and the Wall Street crash of 1929 that ushered in the Great Depression. This experience would form the basis for his Second Bill of Rights.As governor, Roosevelt advocated for unemployment benefits for struggling New Yorkers, forming the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration in 1931 to create jobs for constituents who needed them. In 1930, he signed the states Old Age Security Act into law, providing pensions and financial assistance to residents over the age of 70.By the time Roosevelt announced his candidacy in the 1932 presidential election, unemployment rates were nearing 25 percent. Shantytowns known as Hoovervilles were popping up across the country, and millions of Americans spent hours each week lined up outside soup kitchens. Public DomainUnemployed men line up at a soup kitchen in Chicago. February 1931.In response to this economic catastrophe, Roosevelt ran on the agenda of a New Deal that would provide federal aid to the American people similar to the policies that hed enacted in New York. He was elected in a landslide victory, securing 472 electoral votes to incumbent President Herbert Hoovers 59.Franklin D. Roosevelt spent his time as president enacting this New Deal. He created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 1933, providing consumer protection to bank customers. He also established the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to federally regulate financial markets. Public DomainA poster promoting benefits for the elderly outlined in the Social Security Act.Perhaps the crowning jewel of the New Deal was the Social Security Act, which codified old-age pensions and unemployment insurance. But for Roosevelt, these programs werent enough to guarantee financial security to all Americans. So, he drafted the Second Bill of Rights.FDRs Second Bill Of Rights AgendaPresident Roosevelt first proposed his Second Bill of Rights during his State of the Union Address on Jan. 11, 1944. He was too ill to appear in front of Congress at the time, so he spoke to America over a Fireside Chat from the White House.In his speech, Roosevelt praised the troops fighting in World War II before stating, It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known.Public DomainDesperate citizens tried to withdraw their funds from banks as thousands of financial institutions failed during the Great Depression.We cannot be content, Roosevelt continued, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.Roosevelt declared that the inalienable rights of life and liberty provided by the founding documents of the United States were no longer sufficient. [T]hese political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness, said the president. We have come to the clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.Roosevelt then proposed a Second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race, or creed.The president went on to outline his agenda:The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the Nation;The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;The right of every family to a decent home;The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;The right to a good education.Millions of Americans embraced Roosevelts agenda but just as many criticized the presidents lofty ambitions.Why Did The Second Bill Of Rights Fail?Roosevelts critics immediately latched onto his ideas as a prime example of government overreach. It would have given the federal government too much control over the economy, expanded presidential power, and redistributed wealth in a way that more conservative citizens opposed.Even Americans who did agree with Roosevelts plan had some criticisms. They pointed out the hypocrisy of fighting for these social and economic rights while more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were locked in internment camps against their will after having their homes and businesses stripped from them.U.S. National ArchivesJapanese American children at Californias Tule Lake Segregation Center, the largest internment camp in the U.S. September 1944.The presidents efforts to enact his agenda also faced pushback. Roosevelt assigned staff from the Executive Branch to help draft the legislation in Congress, blending the powers of the two branches of government. In 1946, lawmakers passed the Legislative Reorganization Act to fund their own staff and prohibit Executive Branch personnel from developing policy on Congressional committees.But by then, the Second Bill of Rights had already fallen through the cracks. Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, and while his successor, Harry Truman, expanded his New Deal policies, he did not take up the Second Bill of Rights as a key part of his own agenda.However, in the decades that followed, other politicians, leaders, and activists echoed Roosevelts ideas. When John F. Kennedy ran for president in 1960, the official Democratic Party platform stated that his administration would reaffirm the Economic Bill of Rights which Franklin Roosevelt wrote into our national conscience 16 years ago. It will reaffirm these rights for all Americans of whatever race, place of residence, or station in life.In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. announced plans for the Poor Peoples Campaign, a six-week protest on the Washington Mall that demanded economic rights for impoverished Americans, such as guaranteed employment and more low-income housing. King was assassinated just weeks before the campaign, but it went forward without him and brought about a few small changes, such as additional funding for free school lunches in Alabama and Mississippi.Public DomainDemonstrators march during the Poor Peoples Campaign in Washington, D.C. June 1968.Roosevelts idea for a Second Bill of Rights is even inspiring politicians to this day. In the 2020 presidential race, Senator Bernie Sanders called for a 21st Century Bill of Rights. As reported by CBS News in 2019, Sanders stated in a speech, Over 80 years ago, Franklin Delano Roosevelt helped create a government that made transformative progress in protecting the needs of working families. Today, in the second decade of the 21st century, we must take up the unfinished business of the New Deal and carry it to completion.Although Roosevelts Second Bill of Rights got swallowed in the black hole of American history, the sentiment of his final address to America lives on today through both political advocates and the remnants of the New Deal that continue to provide aid to millions of Americans. After reading about FDRs Second Bill of Rights, learn about Giuseppe Zangaras failed assassination attempt on Roosevelt in 1933. Then, look through some of the New Deal Works Progress Administration posters that helped lift America out of the Great Depression. The post What Was FDRs Second Bill Of Rights And Why Did It Never Come To Fruition? appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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