Matthew McConaughey has never shied away from embracing the wildest stories of his past, and this week, he proved it once again. The Oscar-winning actor and his wife, Camila Alves, marked the anniversary of his infamous 1999 “naked bongo” arrest with humour, tequila, and a tongue-in-cheek video for their brand, Pantalones Organic Tequila. In the clip, Alves dramatically reads the police report while McConaughey, sitting behind his bongos, grins and taps along, a perfect blend of mischief and marketing that turns an old scandal into a celebration of individuality.
The night McConaughey went “pantsless and famous”
The incident took place in October 1999 at McConaughey’s Austin, Texas home. Fresh from celebrating a Texas Longhorns victory, the then 29-year-old actor was partying late into the night, playing music, smoking marijuana, and, as the police would later discover, drumming naked on his bongos.When neighbours complained about the noise, officers entered his home without warning. McConaughey recalled in his 2020 memoir Greenlights that two policemen “wrestled [him] to the ground with nightsticks” and pinned him down. He was charged with disturbing the peace, marijuana possession, and resisting arrest. The more serious charges were later dropped, and he paid a small fine for the noise violation.
Rather than bury the memory, McConaughey has long owned it, even turning it into a running joke. He described the night as a moment of “pure freedom,” saying he refused to cover up because he was in his own home. Over the years, the “naked bongo” incident has become part of his laid-back Texas legend, an anecdote that reflects the actor’s mantra of “just keep livin’.”
A toast to freedom (and good marketing)
To mark the occasion, the couple introduced a new cocktail called “Pantsless and Famous”, a playful twist on the classic “Naked and Famous.” The drink’s launch ties into the brand’s slogan, “The Official Tequila of Marching to Your Own Beat.”McConaughey and Alves co-founded Pantalones Organic Tequila in 2023, often appearing in cheeky adverts without trousers to highlight their brand’s easygoing spirit. “We’re precious about our tequila, not our pants,” they said in a joint statement. “Tequila is meant to be fun, and we wanted to remind people of that.”Now 55, McConaughey has turned what was once an embarrassing tabloid moment into a defining part of his persona, one that embodies humour, honesty, and self-acceptance. From the police blotter to prime-time campaigns, the “naked bongo” night has come full circle, proving that even a youthful misadventure can become a celebration worth raising a glass to. Go to Source