But this was the reality for Boissevain native Wes Stobbe, who has been, to his surprise, identified as the missing lover of singer/actress Olivia Newton-John. Despite the evidence presented by a number of tabloids and online entertainment sites, Stobbe maintains he has no ties to the performer and the paparazzi has it wrong.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Stobbe said. “I wanted to tell all my friends.”
The photo of Stobbe was taken in Sayulita, Mexico in October when he and his wife Bridget Shaw were staying there. He said he does not remember it happening, but he easily confirmed the picture was of him.
Stobbe said he originally heard of it when a friend from Vancouver who is a part time resident of the Mexican town saw the picture in the Star Magazine and asked ‘is this Wes?’ When he heard about it, he felt it was “kind of goofy” but he saw it in the November 27 issue of the National Enquirer.
“We couldn’t stop laughing about it. It is amazing how many tabloids picked it up. It was on Fox News, a half dozen tabloids - all those pictures. There is the picture of me, the picture of Bridget and I sitting there in the trailer park, under a shade awning. It is really something.”
Stobbe was identified as Patrick McDermott, a photographer who went missing in July of 2005 on a fishing boat during a day trip off the coast of California. There has been a lot of speculation over the years about exactly what happened, although by 2008 the official line was he was lost at sea and likely drowned. However, some have said he faked his death to get away from child support payments.
The main reason for interest is due to his on-again, off-again relationship with Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John, born in England and raised in Australia, was a major superstar and crush in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The granddaughter of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Max Born, the singer was known initially for her light, country-pop hits like “Please Mr. Please”, “I Honestly Love You” and “Have You Never Been Mellow”. She exploded after starring with John Travolta in Grease in 1978 and her music took a tougher turn with “Magic” and “Physical”. She later faded from the public spotlight, started several product lines under Koala Blue and slowed her performing career somewhat. She is a breast cancer survivor and fights for animal rights.
Any resemblance between McDermott and Stobbe is slight, but as the misidentified party says, the photos are blown up and blurry, which creates the illusion.
In the Enquirer story, which they call a “world-shaking blockbuster exclusive”, says they had pictures of McDermott hiding out in Mexico. A Texas-based investigator named Charlie Parker identified the man as McDermott due to the eyes, widow’s peak and ears. The article goes on to discuss the man’s misdeeds and the theory this was the original place he hid out when he disappeared.
“I thought this was pretty hilarious,” Stobbe said. “I don’t think it’s anything to take seriously. I don’t think there are any serious negative issues. I take it as a big joke.”
On the other side of the situation, it might be tougher to take. Newton-John has been bothered by these stories for a decade. In a 60 Minutes interview several years ago, she said it is difficult because no one knows for sure what happened on the boat. Though it is human to wonder, she said, it was something she had to accept. Having to hear it over and over again must not be easy, especially since it was reported last year that her cancer has returned.
Stobbe said it crossed his mind to try to get in touch with the star, to tell her he knows the picture is he, not McDermott.
“It could be a serious issue to her. There are hundreds of stories about these stars. I don’t know how it affects them.”
For his part, Stobbe is happy to be the butt of a few good-natured jokes and is planning to return to Mexico soon. It is not a situation he ever imagined he would be in, but maybe in the future there can be a payoff.
“I don’t know, maybe I can come up with something,” he chuckled. “You know all of these celebrities. Maybe I can play off my celebrity status.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder Staff