Criss Angel ‘Phenomenon’ Audience Member Fight

November 1st, 2007 by Castina

‘Mind Freak’ Criss Angel got into an altercation with an audience member on the set of NBC’s supernatural show “Phenomenon” during Wednesday night’s live taping.

The incident involved contestant Jim Callahan, who took offense to comments Criss made as a “Phenomenon” judge.

“Criss jumped out of his chair, and was ready to battle it out.”
“I just think it’s comical quite frankly,” Criss told reporters.

“I will give you a million dollars of my personal money right now if either one of you can tell me specific details of what’s in here right now,” Angel insisted of an envelope he was holding.

“Ok man, I’ll tell you what I will tell you. I find you an ideological bigot,” Callahan responded as he made his way towards Angel.

“Tell me what’s in the envelope,” Angel kept repeating.

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36 Responses to “Criss Angel ‘Phenomenon’ Audience Member Fight”

On November 1st 2007, WS wrote:

I wish they didn’t bleep out what was said, as I am very curious what happened. I think Criss thought the guy was a fake, but that guy probably had a bunch of bad feelings about Criss for a long time. I wish he would have tried to guess the contents of that envelope to see if he is that good.
On November 1st 2007, mikeJ wrote:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pE45QHIUfiM

read for yourself at the end of this clip and you’ll see why Jim said what he said…..
On November 1st 2007, magusgreen wrote:

Here is what I think happened…

Callahan accepted a challenge to determine through the psychic medium of speaking with the dead the contents of a box. The box was guarded by Criss Angel staff. Callahan successfully identified the object, in our opinion, by method of allicitation. (google allicitation) Criss, having percieved that the contents of the box had been compromised was angered by Callahan’s ability to defeat his box challenge. He then laid a trap for Callahan that you saw play out. The presence of two letters, rather than merely one, is questionable. It is most likely that Criss intended to pose the challenge to more than one contestant. However, it is possible that Criss, risking 1million dollars, intended to switch envelopes by sleight of hand in the event that Callahan accepted his challenge and told him the contents of the envelope. The fact that Callahan reacted with anger lends credibility to the claim that he is a fraud. We believe he is a fraud as well. Still, Criss was unable to determine how Callahan compromised his box challenge. This angered Criss and this is why he humiliated Callahan. Criss also did it for his own selfish reasons. 1. To try to be like Houdini. He’s mental that way. He thinks he is the successor to Houdini, but he is nowhere in Houdini’s league. 2. Because the show has received poor ratings, this was a publicity stunt. Criss even mentions that Houdini was a master of publicity. 3. It is possible that Criss too seeks proof, definitive proof, of an afterlife. I am merely speculating here.

The fact of the matter is that Callahan would have been no worse for the wear to have attempted to solve the challenge. I’d love to take a shot at it. Here is what I noticed about the letter.

1. Whatever was inside, most likely was something written. Why? If you look closely at the outside there is a lot of markings that would encrypt the writing inside if one held it up to the light.

2. Still, it is possible that something such as salt, a pumpkin seed, or the like was inside. I would ask to touch the letter and as I touched it would feel for something solid inside. If I detected nothing solid, or grainy, I would then deduce that it was indeed something written.

3. I would ask seemingly innocent questions to try to allicit the answer from Criss.

4. I would attempt to modify the challenge. I’d ask Cris to allow me to answer what is in either letter for $500,000 instead. This way I would have two chances at winning his money and I would neutralize the option to switch letters on me by sleight of hand. Criss reaction to this proposition may tell me something about the contents. (i.e. if both letters contained the same thing or not)

5. I would insist that both letters be opened at the end and accuse Criss of attempting to use sleight of hand on me. Or, I’d merely take a stab at it and if wrong I would then accuse Criss of sleight of hand. The oddity here of two letters lends the potential to exploit Criss and reverse the suspicion of fraud on to him. I would ask him to be searched to see if he indeed had more letters. I’d turn it into a question of Criss’s character.

6. Criss, I don’t think, intended to use sleight of hand, but rather intended to offer the challenge to multiple contestants.

(What does research suggest was inside the letters: The 10 words Houdini would have said to his wife that was an encrypted message of “believe”)

(What does my own intuition tell me was in the letters? My impression was that it was certainly a written thing. My gut feeling was that it was the poem by Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”. Hence the presence of Raven Simone as a clue! Criss would give you a clue. He’s sick like that. He likes to play with fire.)

More….
On November 1st 2007, magusgreen wrote:

Since Criss has done this thing to Callahan, I feel obligated to expose two of his tricks. Why two? I do feel confident that I can expose these illusions that are largely compromised already. First of all, I am not a magician, I am a self taught analyst. Secondly, neither is Criss Angel.

Criss Angel is:
1. A stunt man
2. An escape artist
3. An illusionist
4. A designer / engineer of visually deceptive props / machines

Exposure #1: Watch the video of Criss going up an escalator and seeming to levitate…. This is actually David Blain’s trick. He has mirrors on the bottoms of his shoes. He never appeared to levitate to me, but rather to turn his back to us, stand on his tip toes, and show us a reflection of the ground beneath his feet. Notice how he carefully controls the crowd and asks them to stand in certain spots… that’s because from the front or side it is clear that he is standing on his tip toes. (but what of the higher elevations? more on that later.)

Exposure #2: Watch the video of Criss lifting the front of a Taxi Cab. This is hands down the CHEAPEST illusion he has ever done… EVER. This illusion was designed by a physicist. A Weight is moved to the rear of the trunk by machine. This weight is carefully callibrated so that the car doesn’t lift its self, but just enough so that Criss can lift it. Notice he claims to “need” the bar on the front of the car. He doesn’t need that. This was his way of getting his own cab there instead of any cab on the street. It’s misdirection. Notice that as the weight is shifted back over the rear axl of the car that it suddenly drops and Criss is still holding on and possibly injured as he attempts to still hold the car up. There was no way to be ready for the drop. Had he given a signal to the driver to move the weight back over the axl so that the car dropped, it would have been perceived by analysts. The signal to move the weight to the trunk in the first place for the lift was simply his attempting to lift. So, there it is….

O.K. I’m not sure how Criss does the higher elevation levitation, but I have a strong suspicion that he is employing a device. Notice that when he does an elevation that he seems to get into a “Christ” pose, with his feet crossed on the bottom. He crosses one foot over the other because he is standing on something small. To his credit this takes a great deal of balance I’m sure, but he is standing on something and one foot is standing on the other. I can’t rightly say that these are the definitive answers to his illusions, but only my suspicions.

For the record, I don’t think it was right to expose the medium. If you people are willing to believe it, who am I to convince you otherwise? I do think there is NO evidence to support any claim that anyone has ever talked to the dead, or for that matter that there is an afterlife at all. I do believe there is an afterlife and when I pray, I pray to Jesus Christ. This is my faith. Yet, no man has proved any of these beliefs to me.

Still, one man doesn’t have the right to take food from another’s mouth. If Callahan chooses this method of deception, more power to him. I could care less what you believe or what he claims. However, I take issue with any man who deliberately humiliates another. Criss has crossed the line in the sands of coolness with me. It is my opinion that anyone, man or woman, who attempts to humiliate or subvert another man or woman’s ability to feed themselves has attempted to commit social murder. Anyone who tries to starve you, subvert your ability to work, or humiliate you for their own personal gain has made an attempt on your life. They, in my opinion, are as guilty, if not more so, than a murderer. It would be kinder to kill someone than it would to be to ask them to live and not be able to work or eat. For that reason, it is my determination that Criss Angel deserves to die.

For the record, this is, in my opinion, the very thing that got Harry Houdini killed. Criss Angel has made himself a target. He will be exposed now, if not murdered. I believe that Houdini was either poisoned by Arthur Conan Doyle and Arthur Ford, or punched to death by one of their henchmen. Houdini too deserved to die. When you make enemies, you open yourself up to be wounded. People who don’t like monsters, shouldn’t make them. When you humiliate another human being you are asking to be murdered. Remember that, because someone out there has your ticket to heaven or hell, and they’ll send you to see God or the Devil or whatever you believe is in the afterlife.

Should one man commit fraud to feed himself, he will answer to God.
Should another man expose him for anything he has likened himself to God and is exacting judgement for a perceived trespass. This man takes his own life into his hands as he has attempted to starve another. The penalty for starving another man should rightly be death.
On November 1st 2007, magicman wrote:

Criss angel is the WORST magician mentalist whatever u want to call him ever!!! someone kill him
On November 1st 2007, Jackson wrote:

FUCK ALL OF YOU THAT GUY WAS ASKING FOR IT I WISH CHRIS WOULDHAVE WOOPED HIS ASS THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A HELL OF A SHOW. i also think that that guy did set that up because his preformance fucking ridiculous preformance…
On November 1st 2007, Aku wrote:

I love the selective text at the end of the clip.

Despite the fact that Angel has said many times that he does not have superhuman powers, that he performs illusions, not magic, and that he does not believe in the paranormal, people still twist his actions around. In the episodes quoted for being a “bigot”,

1: The definition of Mindfreak – The photo zooms in on Supernatural. Yet, the first definition is “A modern day mystifier who utilized SKILLS BEYOND THE CATEGORY OF MAGIC.” Mmhmm.

2: Seance – At the end he states he doesn’t believe in ghosts. Using simple logic skills, this means that obviously, the entire episode was an illusion designed to make his guests believe they were witnessing a Seance.

3: Walking on Water – Before the demonstration Angel states that this is not a religious demonstration.

Do some research before you make it known that you are an idiot just trying to start stuff because you either have nothing better to do, or you can’t stand the fact that someone is doing something that you can’t figure out.

The world is full of Chicken Littles now. The media cries and the stupid come running.
On November 1st 2007, Luis wrote:

That guy was a dork & so are all the other dorks disputing this stupid crap. Get a life!!!
On November 1st 2007, Blah wrote:

I think it was awesome that Criss Angel called out that fake… And what’s wrong with you people saying he should die.. Are you people fucken retarded..
On November 1st 2007, Stephen wrote:

magusgreen, dude… Why did you waste 30 minutes of your life typing that out? Are you really that passionate about this?

It’s simple. He got up there, flailed around, fell, said what was in the box(which he already knew), Criss challenged him to it, he couldn’t say what was in the envelope(because.. IT’S NOT REAL), and he got upset like a little girl.

That’s all.
On November 1st 2007, Aaron Martin-Colby wrote:

I’m not a big fan of Criss Angel, but I’m glad to see that other magicians aside from Penn & Teller are taking up the debunking torch. Unlike magusgreen, I think the elimination of these beliefs is a good thing.
On November 1st 2007, Aaron Martin-Colby wrote:

I also feel the need to defend Angel against the charge of being a hypocrite. Criss Angel has never claimed true powers. He only ever calls himself an entertainer and an artist. He does all this with a theme of mysticism and, apparently, hard rock music, but that’s all it is. He’s an entertainer watching another entertainer try and fool people and getting rightfully angered.
On November 1st 2007, seriously wrote:

you must be kidding..
wow all of what you said has got to be the most ignorant thing i have ever read. if you actually know who criss angel is…you’d know that his honest intention was to stand up for those who are vulnerable to believing those who communicate to the dead. he was just exposing jim because he’s preying on innocent people.. now criss never claims to HAVE supernatural powers he is an illusionist and demonstrator.
he’s worked hard for everything he has done and jim was asking for humiliation. did you not see his performance?!?
ridiculous criss was merely speaking for all of us..let him do what he wants..just because he speaks his mind he deserves to die??
that is really cold..especially for one who is a believer in Jesus. Let no one decide one’s fate but God.
Jim said that it was a free country and that everyone had a right to their own opinion..
Criss asked what was in the envelope…no humiliation, the guy could have answered it, but he decides to insult criss and try to make him look better when he made the whole thing worse…

unbelievable

criss angel is a living legend!
On November 2nd 2007, Steve wrote:

INSTEAD…Criss Angel has never professed to actually have powers. He says “Look what I can do…”, and he does it. He will openly admit that they are all tricks. The problem he has with this guy is that he DOESN’T admit that what he is doing is simply manipulation of perception. He’s playing it off as a real ability, which is all fine and good, for entertainment purposes. It’s when people start believing in hocus pocus like this that it becomes a problem, such as refusal of medical care, placing someone’s faith instead in God to heal their ills, or handling poisonous snakes under the auspices that their faith will protect them from harm.

As for taking food from someone else’s mouth, they do not deserve to feed off the ignorance of others. Someone should have done this sort of thing long ago, and to many, many more people. This sort of attribution to fantastic powers is the same sort of thing that has people everywhere flocking to some religion or another in the hope that it will deliver them from their mundane lives, and there are FAR TOO MANY souls getting fat off the bounty they take in from the people they deceive. How does anyone make themselves a target when they admit that they practice illusions and tricks? Should or shall someone become so enraged when they can’t determine the method of trickery that they will try to exact vengeance on him as a performer? Give me a break. The only difference between what he does and what any other spiritualist or religious icon does is that he admits that even though it’s enjoyable to watch, it eventually ends, and behind the smoke and mirrors, it is nothing so grand and mystical as it seems to the common man. And for that, I applaud him.
On November 2nd 2007, chawtvr wrote:

This guy is a joke.

Criss Angel does VERY good work.

This “Jim Class”-less person, is a terrible fraud. Very over dramatic & over acting during this presentation. At least all the other people, including Criss have admitted that there’s trickery. Mediums do not exist & should not parade around like its real.
On November 2nd 2007, bob wrote:

Criss Angel, IS being a bigot.

Criss Angel is just as guilty of deception as Jim. So what was his point as a judge to ask Jim (and Uri Geller)to guess what was in the envelope? Did Jim ask Criss what was in the box? Did Jim ask Criss to levitate above the audience on a “LIVE” show? Did Jim make fun of Criss’s Seance when he became posessed, and exploited a young child’s death by the name of Amy?

Criss Angel relies on trick photography and pre-arranged “strangers” for many of his illusions.

Don’t get me wrong, I did not like Jim’s performance, primarily due to his obvious over-acting, but I disliked Criss Angel’s attitude even worse, especially when he challenged his co-host’s abilities.
On November 2nd 2007, Nameless wrote:

I will say…I actually work the show and many of you are way off base. Think logically…can you say “rehearsal” ! For the record, Criss is a great guy and his challenge wasn’t planned…but as for the contestant, just think logically and if all else fails just chalk it up to bad acting…
On November 3rd 2007, Jon Wilcox wrote:

I WAS a big fan of Criss. Not as much after that little show of jealousy and unprofessionalism. Criss did a FREAKING SEANCE’ on Mindfreak. He actually did the same thing that he got so heated about Jim doing…completely wrong across the board for a judge to call a contestant out like that and possibly affect the voting. Unfair to Jim, unfair to the contestants in general, unfair to the fans, unfair to the audience, even unfair to Criss himself AND his craft.

Criss could have just said he thought it was bogus and it sucked and left it at that. I don’t believe he should come back as a judge this week.
On November 4th 2007, Steve wrote:

You people aren’t paying attention. It’s not the quality of the act that Criss gives a shit about. It’s not jealousy. It’s NOT bigotry. It’s a the simple fact that this Jim clown was trying to portray his “abilities” as actual paranormal happenings.

Yeah, it’s a competition, but watch the trailers for the competition, and see the part where Criss sits and EXPLAINS how everything he does is a trick, and if he sees someone trying to play it off as actual powers, he’s going to debunk them ON THE SHOW. He says it. Look, if I tell you I’m going to kick you in the face, and then I walk calmly over to you, chat with you a while, and then kick you in the face, whose fault is it? It’s yours, for not having the good sense to believe it. When someone comes on the show trying to build a reputation on supernatural powers after being forewarned that they would be outed as frauds on that show, then it’s their own stupidity for continuing with the act, and not just owning up to the fact that it is just that…an act.

I’ve seen a couple posts on here where people like to talk about Criss’ seance. That’s true, he did perform a seance. But during that show, he also explained that it was a fraud, and he’s talked about it since off the show, explaining that it’s trickery and deception. See, Arnold didn’t look at the camera during the movie and tell everyone that he wasn’t actually a robot sent from the future to help out some rebel leader. Why? Because everyone knows better, before hand. Watch him outside of the movie, and he admits he’s a normal man. Criss does the same thing. While he’s in character, he plays the paranormal power routine up, but once he’s off the show, he’s all about telling people “Yeah, it’s just a trick.”.

For those of you who don’t know, shows like this work off a balance dynamic. Yin and yang, so to speak. If both judges are biased towards the contestants, then they will be locked on who is the winner. That’s why Simon is a bastard, and Paula is a sweetheart on American Idol. Criss plays the part of the skeptic on this show. His ENTIRE PURPOSE on the show is to point out what is wrong with the act. Why did he challenge Uri, as well as Jim, with the envelopes? Because Uri rose to fame in the 70’s as a mentalist, using the same sort of tactics this Jim guy is using, trying to lay claim to actual paranormal powers. You know what stopped him? The Amazing Randi. He debunked Geller on the air, and it basically ruined him. If he had been admitting that his performances were tricks, no one would be tempted to try to undermine his performance, just like with Jim here. What good does it do when you say “I do tricks!”, and someone says “You’re doing a trick!”? Nothing. THEY end up looking stupid. THAT is what made Criss do what he did, he simply wanted the guy to admit that he didn’t actually have the powers he portrayed on stage.

What it all boils down to is that Criss simply called bullshit on something this guy claimed was real, and when he just couldn’t support his own claims, Jim became belligerent. You didn’t see Uri get all pissed, right? That’s because he’s seen it all before, and he knows that Criss was right.

I’m still a fan of Criss Angel, because he’s good at what he does. Those of you that want to sit back and call him a bigot and a hypocrite should probably look into the “evidence” you’re using to support those claims, and think about what Jim is doing. It’s a simple case of misdirection (a trick used by probably every magician on earth). You see, by dramatic flourishes, you take the eyes away from where the important facts are, so that you can deceive someone more easily. By whining and crying on national television, Jim took the attention away from the fact that he was a fraud. Criss was just trying to prove that. And a fraud doesn’t deserve to win any competition.
On November 4th 2007, me wrote:

I just saw the Halloween show, and I have to say that I lost a bit of respect for Criss tonight. Don’t get me wrong, I think the man is amazing, and I can’t wait for his next season to begin, however, I thought it was wrong of him to call out the Jim guy (sorry first episode I’ve watched). While I do understand his point, I think he’d lost sight of the purpose of the show. Jim called himself an entertainer after the performance. I know he claimed to be a medium in the intro….but does anyone else see this the way I do?, he was setting up for his act. Creating the scene, atmosphere…whatever. I happen to believe that mediums do exist, however I believe that a true medium wouldn’t use their ability in this way….for this type of venue. Having said that, Jim is also an illusionist, someone who is playing tricks on you…… Criss doesn’t believe in the paranormal, which is fine…. a lot of people feel the same way, however I think it would have been better suited to him to call him out in another way. Jim handled himself poorly, but Criss got out of his seat too, making the situation escalate. He should have just left his comment as it being rather comical. He would have looked like the better man.
On November 6th 2007, Steve wrote:

During his performance, Jim is referenced as the most controversial contestant. The reason for that is because he was the only one that proposed that his powers were legitimate. Criss wasn’t beating around the bush, because he blatantly said that he would out anyone that was trying to do that, before the show ever began.
On November 9th 2007, Emil wrote:

Criss Angel, is a living legend. I love what Criss doe, he never ceases to amaze me. I think it;’s funny that people go and judge him, calling him a fake. Who else do you know that can; walk through a window? pull a person in half? walk on water? or leviate between two building rooftops? I consider Criss a demon in my own right, because I just perceive him as such. What you think, is fine and dandy, but don’t go sounding off like a posh block. I am Wiccan, and I love Criss. MINDFREAK 4 LIFE!!
On November 9th 2007, The drake wrote:

Interesting….
On November 9th 2007, The drake wrote:

Interesting….
I like criss…. Callahan name i seen before…Some where along the lines of Cris Fleming…

I’m always skeptical…Interesting group of people to meet if ya ever get a chance.
On November 19th 2007, Dayra wrote:

It is a competition my friend, if you can’t prove that you have supernatural powers well, then make up a good excuse, do not get all bitchy. Criss doesn’t like people that like to scam people and make them believe they have supernatural powers. Criss NEVER said he has supernatural powers, he always say : “don’t believe your eyes” “Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear” ” do you believe in ghost? I don’t” (lol), so, he doesn’t like to go messing around with people’s beliefs, he just mess around with their minds, haha, so, well done Criss.
On November 27th 2007, @ magusgreen wrote:

Did you google allicitation? I wonder if this post will elicit a response…
On December 7th 2007, sandeep wrote:

Okay…there were too many comments to go through each and every one of them, but i was wondering if any of u ahve seen this clip…

This supposedly happened on one of the later episodes of ‘phenomenon’ and we clearly see uri predict the writting inside criss’s envelope..

(video’s from youtube..title : Uri Geller should claim $1 million from Criss Angel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YXHGGfeVzI )
On January 2nd 2008, Becky wrote:

ok, bottom line Callahan sucks and criss Angel RULES! whoever dont think that is their opinion and im ok w/that. whoever says bad things about criss is a LOSER and WANNABE! no matter what!!!!!!!! :P

by the way, if u wanna c all of it w/o it bleeped out, go to youtube and search criss angel phenomon fight uncensored
On March 9th 2008, Shinigami wrote:

First point:

Criss Angel says everything he does is illusion; he does not pretend what he does is via the power of ghosts, “haints”, poltergeists, zombies, ect.

Point 2:

Criss Angel gives the contestant a choice of which letter he wants to choose. If he were for real, he could have asked Raven Symone to take one of the two and hold it on stage, reenact his former connection to the “realm of the dead” and have won an easy 1 million dollars. The fact he did not do this, but instead went nuts indicates he knew he couldn’t do it, or he would have.

Point 3: Before even seeing the video, quite humorously, I thought to myself, “She will put a twinkie in the box” because I was shocked by how much weight Raven continues to put on. (Sorry Raven) So had I put on the same act, I would have written “small, orange object” Of course I didn’t think it was a car, but I would have won, right?

Harry Houdini truly wanted to find a true medium to the other side, he attended many seances trying to find the real deal. And he never found one, not one.

While I do not discount there being paranormal occurances myself, I agree with Criss Angel in testing the validity of the contestants in the tradition of Harry Houdini.
On August 1st 2008, Shotgun wrote:

Don’t be hatin’!
On August 14th 2008, Nos wrote:

I’m glad Criss called this guy out! The big difference between Criss Angel and this ass, is Criss comes out and says what he does is an illusion and this guy claims to talk to the dead. This guy is deplorable because he is the type who preys on people who believe he has contact to the other side.

CRISS ANGEL IS #1
On November 6th 2008, criss angel #1 fan wrote:

criss angel is the 1 magcian ever i dont care if his magic is fake or real criss is just amazing everyone who hates him is jealous of him and criss angel out smarted that fuck jim
On November 28th 2008, Sha wrote:

what i would like to know is …. what was in the envolope ???
On March 3rd 2009, Eric T wrote:

“Criss Angel is just as guilty of deception as Jim. So what was his point as a judge to ask Jim (and Uri Geller)to guess what was in the envelope?”

Dude, you are completely missing the point. Criss Angel is an illusionist, he does TRICKS, he doesn’t claim to have supernatural powers. Callahan is one of those unscrupulous scumbags who do the same tricks as illusionist, but claim to have genuine supernatural powers.

One has to reserve some of the scorn for the credulous morons they dupe, but people like Callahan and Ghellar are *con men*, they are *liars*. People like Criss, Blaine, Coperfield, etc. are honest men with honest professions.
On July 11th 2009, lolcallahan wrote:

“…For that reason, it is my determination that Criss Angel deserves to die. ”

“Should one man commit fraud to feed himself, he will answer to God.
Should another man expose him for anything he has likened himself to God and is exacting judgement for a perceived trespass. This man takes his own life into his hands as he has attempted to starve another. The penalty for starving another man should rightly be death.”

So, fagusgreen… what exactly were you hoping to accomplish by “exposing” Criss Angel’s illusions?

“It is my opinion that anyone, man or woman, who attempts to humiliate or subvert another man or woman’s ability to feed themselves has attempted to commit social murder.”

Sure sounds like a hypocrite speaking…

…unless of course you’ve already hung yourself (we can only hope)
On August 26th 2009, Leann Irean Legler wrote:

I challange criss angel to read My mindand levat me.