Stars of the new movie “I Love Boosters,” Keke Palmer and LaKeith Stanfield, showed up to an LA gas station more than an hour late Tuesday where they were billed to be pumping free gas for dozens of fans.
But moments after posing for photos while filling a car or so each, the actors vanished in blacked out SUVs and did not return.
Throngs of drivers turned up as early as 1am to have the actors fill their tanks, sparking chaos and shutting down the street outside the Shell on West Pico Blvd.
Event staff said 70 cars would get free gas, with a cap of up to $100 per car, but only around 60 got theirs while the remainder got gift cards.
LA cops, who had already been on scene and asking questions about the event’s permit, later shut it down when the crowds and cars interfered with traffic.
They had already ticketed a man who parked on the sidewalk and had a chicken dressed in clothes walking on his tailgate.
For much of the event, even before the stars’ arrival, it was chaos. Fans, press and event staff were strewn across the tiny Shell parking lot.
Cars flowed into the lot and were directed by people who didn’t appear to be working the event. A line of vehicles was pushed down an adjacent alley, making it difficult for some to pass through.
Traffic also jammed near the event as fans struggled to get in line or into the lot.
Many bystanders, including 25-year-old Diana Chicas, who had been there since 1 a.m., were left wondering where Palmer and Stanfield were.
Chicas said she came so early because she was afraid other people would show up before her. She only had enough money for gas or food, so the event made it an easy choice, she said.
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She had been a fan of Palmer since she was a child. But she didn’t get her gas pumped by her, though she did meet her.
Another woman, 30-year-old Sana Moore, told The Post she felt the event was “very unorganized” and that her friend was harassed by a man there so much so that she left and missed out on the free gas.
“They could have done a lot of things better,” she said. Event staff told The Post Moore did not have a ticket for the event and wouldn’t leave the pump.
The promoter of the event, Triple Play Studios founder Alex Craig, said he thought the free gas would be perfect to promote the movie.
“Just in today’s economy in California, if you look at the gas prices and just how much oil prices are going up right now, just thought it’d be a good way to kind of give back to the community and kind of in theme with the movie,” he said.
While the event didn’t live up to its celebrity billing, most event attendees said they weren’t there as much for Palmer, who starred in “Nope,” as they were for the free gas.
Ten gallons of regular gas at that particular station would cost more than $60, but if they spent their precious time, drivers could have a chance at it.
Even Palmer fanatic Chicas said she was ultimately there for the gas, which is more expensive than ever in California.
“At a time like this, it’s the gas [over Palmer],” she said.
Attendees blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Iran war for skyrocketing prices. The price at the Shell station was $6.09 a gallon and $6.15 on average statewide, according to AAA.
“I feel like we need more refineries here and Governor Newsom should support us more,” Tamalyn Moss told The Post.
38-year-old Keshi Sebere thought Newsom deserved the blame “because he’s governor.” “When you wear the pants, you wear the pants,” she added.
Blue states, including Newsom’s, have led the way in raising their gas taxes. California’s state excise tax was 30 cents a decade ago — it’s now nearly twice that.
Palmer and Stanfield didn’t answer questions from The California Post about the high price of gas in California.
The “Nope” star posted an Instagram video afterwards, suggesting her disgust at the state’s gas prices.
Stanfield, while pumping one person’s gas, said: “Free gas is an amazing thing, you see how high it is out here.”
The pair’s movie, which is about professional shoplifers who embark on a wild adventure, hits the silver screen on May 22. The film also stars Poppy Liu, Eiza González, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore.
The manager of the Shell and a rep for NEON declined to comment. Shell deferred any comment to the owner of the station.
