Have you ever looked at a celebrity and thought to yourself, "I would do anything to meet them?" Or maybe you even realized what a great romantic or platonic partner you could be to them. Well, we hate to break it to you, but most of the time, these dreams are best left to the imagination.
What we're getting at is the fact that often enough, celebrities are just a product of their branding and our projected ideals. That doesn't mean that they all are terrible people; it only means that they all have flaws that might disappoint us. That's why there's the saying, "Never meet your heroes."
More info: Reddit
#1
I met Paul McCartney in 2013. I was just picking up some coffee and biscuits. Recognized him immediately when I turned to leave the store, my jaw dropped, I muttered “wow, your music fills my memories,” which was the first thing that came to mind when I saw him, it sounded so lame to me afterwards- but he smiled and said “well I think that’s a lovely thing to hear on a day like today” (it was raining and gloomy).
I’ll never forget it. My dad was a huge Beatles fan. Had every album. Played them every single day. He’d hum the songs while he worked in his garden.
I’ll never forget it. My dad was a huge Beatles fan. Had every album. Played them every single day. He’d hum the songs while he worked in his garden.
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42points
#2
Was having breakfast, in a restaurant in Kansas City. My son noticed Paul Rudd was seated a table away from us. As we were leaving, I noticed he was done eating and just chatting with friends. I stopped and told him I enjoyed almost all his movies. (Yes, I actually said “almost all”). He asked me what I didn’t like, so I told him “Dinner For Schmucks”. He laughed and said, yeah, I understand.
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39points
#3
Steve Buscemi: stayed for a couple weeks at a hotel where I was the night manager. I saw him every night, since he was working on a film that shot late into the evening.
Total class act, one of my favorite guests ever. He remembered my name, always stopped to say hi after his evening cigarette. Night shift workers are often ignored, so it was quite meaningful.
When he left early one morning, he came by the desk and said, stonefaced:
‘I am leaving for the weekend. Please tell everyone to leave my room alone. I will be back Monday. I will take this pillow with me.’
Steve Buscemi should have all the hotel pillows he wants.
Edit: Another hotel guest was an extra in the movie, and she cornered him for a bit at the front desk. She gushed that he was ‘so different in real life than the character you are playing in the movie!’ To which he (patiently and painstakingly) replied: ‘Well, yes, I was acting.’.
Total class act, one of my favorite guests ever. He remembered my name, always stopped to say hi after his evening cigarette. Night shift workers are often ignored, so it was quite meaningful.
When he left early one morning, he came by the desk and said, stonefaced:
‘I am leaving for the weekend. Please tell everyone to leave my room alone. I will be back Monday. I will take this pillow with me.’
Steve Buscemi should have all the hotel pillows he wants.
Edit: Another hotel guest was an extra in the movie, and she cornered him for a bit at the front desk. She gushed that he was ‘so different in real life than the character you are playing in the movie!’ To which he (patiently and painstakingly) replied: ‘Well, yes, I was acting.’.
39points
We, as humans, have a tendency to idolize those who impress us. People we think are the epitome of perfection, possessing qualities we dream of and work towards. Whether it's an actor, musician, any other entertainer, social activist, political leader, or simply someone from your life, like a teacher or a friend – anyone can be someone’s idol.
Yet, what should be kept in mind is that most of the time when we idealize someone like that, we admire a perfect image of them that we came up with in our minds. Most often, we select the part of said person that we admire and tend to eliminate all the others we don’t really like.
#4
I met Ewan McGregor about 7 years ago in Geneva. He was hosting this big fundraiser and I was part of the crew putting on a show for the event.
After the show, instead of socializing with all the rich attendees for the soirée, he came downstairs where all the artists and the crew were having a drink and hung out with us for a couple of hours, great guy!
After the show, instead of socializing with all the rich attendees for the soirée, he came downstairs where all the artists and the crew were having a drink and hung out with us for a couple of hours, great guy!
39points
#5
Met Maya Angelou years and years ago. The woman was unequivocally gracious and perfect. I was about ten years old and I walked into a small neighborhood restaurant with my mother and grandmother and she was sitting at a table having coffee or tea with someone. I had just learned about her in school (we’re from the same parts) and recognized her. I pointed her out to my mom and grandmother we just gawked at her as we were waiting to be seated. She saw us staring and got up from her table to come over and introduce herself to us. She was smiling and so so kind. She even took pictures with us. It ended up being my grandmother’s Christmas card before she left us. I can honestly say I will remember Maya Angelou’s smile for the rest of my life. It was a lovely time and an even lovelier memory. Phenomenal woman indeed.
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33points
#6
Well I have never met Lauren Graham in person but my friend did and she told Lauren how much I love Gilmore Girls, Lauren gave me an autograph through my friend and the next time they met, Lauren asked my friend how I was doing and addressed me by my name!!!! I love her even more now that I know she's an actor that appreciates fans.
27points
A part of it comes down to something called “positive psychological projections” – a phenomenon where we project positive traits we want to have on that person we admire. Thus, we make them some kind of “ideal” being, which isn’t the most realistic thing. But it helps us psychologically.
You see, by admiring someone with certain qualities and values, we want to reflect them on ourselves, which can bring us happiness and energy for positive transformations.
#7
Jack White. I got lucky going into his record shop on the right day, but I had just been dumped. I was sort of shopping to take my mind off things and was lowkey tearing up while I was listening to music. Well, I guess he noticed. Made me take my headphones out, and asked if I was okay. When I said not really, he gave me a hug and told me everything would work out in the end. Nicest experience I’ve ever had.
23points
#8
Back in 2013 when I was 15 I paid $500 for a Justin Bieber meet and greet (stupid, I know). He arrived over an hour late and did not interact or acknowledge any of us. He stood like a statue wearing sunglasses while 100 very obsessed teenage girls rushed in posed for a photo and were rushed back out. It was over in about 5 seconds. Thinking back now the whole situation was realllly sad. We knew it would be a really quick thing but he arrived so late that his crew came in and was telling us all it wouldn’t be a meet and greet but “a photo opportunity”. It was sad that all of these young girls were soooo excited to meet him and had paid a lot of money to do so and he and his team literally didn’t have a single care at all.
I understand at the time he was going through a lot and since then he has apologised a lot for his various antics, but he has never really apologised to the thousands of young girls that wasted hundreds of dollars for what would be a really terrible and heart breaking experience. Since then I’ve remained a mild fan but I have always sustained the impression that he doesn’t like and has no drive for his career and resents his fans.
I understand at the time he was going through a lot and since then he has apologised a lot for his various antics, but he has never really apologised to the thousands of young girls that wasted hundreds of dollars for what would be a really terrible and heart breaking experience. Since then I’ve remained a mild fan but I have always sustained the impression that he doesn’t like and has no drive for his career and resents his fans.
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22points
#9
I did a meet and greet at a con with Tom Holland in 2019. I was EXTREMELY nervous because duh, it’s Tom Holland. He was the nicest person ever. Gave me a big hug and asked me how I was doing. He could tell I was lowkey freaking out and told me everything was okay. It went quick but still felt personal. Love that man!!
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20points
At the same time, we shouldn't build our whole identity on idolizing others, especially to an excessive level. There’s a difference between appreciation and pedestalization, and the latter should be avoided at all costs.
First of all, because it kind of dehumanizes them – by projecting total perfection on anyone, we put unrealistic expectations onto them, which not only forces them to act to certain standards, preventing them from just being human (which is the most common among celebrity idols), but can quickly lead us to misery.
#10
Cillian Murphy was utterly lovely when I met him. Clever, engaged, and thoughtful. He answered people's questions with care and interest, and he's also devastatingly handsome! Obviously I'd seen him onscreen but it shocked me how good looking he was in real life. Cheekbones that could cut glass.
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19points
#11
I met Kit Harrington (after missing my chance to meet him a few years earlier). He was at a food market/court in Covent Garden trying to be very nonchalant. I walked over slowly, said hello and that I loved every scene he was in and was so happy to see him come back alive. He smiled, looked genuinely happy and even shook my hand. I didn't ask for a picture because he clearly didn't want that kind of attention. Good experience.
19points
#12
Robin Williams a year before he left us when I was living in Chicago at Starbucks. My aunts were visiting from Wisconsin and he was so nice. He even told my aunt he was happy her grandkids loved hook.
19points
If they do something that doesn’t fit the image we have of them in our heads, it’s easy to get disappointed. Like the saying goes, “Never meet your idols (or heroes).” Basically, it entails that if you meet someone you highly admire, you’re bound to get upset after you realize that they’re far from the picture-perfect image in your head.
This can be attested by people who were not so lucky to meet their heroes. Quite a few stories like that are featured in today’s list. Most of them are about people meeting their favorite celebrities who, after certain run-ins, stopped being favored by them, as the meeting didn’t go so well.
#13
As a young teen I was obsessed with all things Tolkien and I had a little Bilbo Baggins action figure I would take pictures of in random places having predicaments. When I heard the cast of the new Hobbit movie included Benedict Cumberbatch (who played Smaug the dragon) and that Benedict Cumberbatch & Mark Gatiss were in town promoting Sherlock (which I liked) I went with some friends to see the episode premier & hopefully get a picture of Bilbo with the actor playing Smaug. Mark Gatiss took one and was very sweet. BC said "it was an insult to the country of New Zealand" and walked away. It crushed me at the time haha, though now I think it's hilarious...what did he even mean?? Also sad Martin Freeman was not there since he's also in Sherlock.
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18points
#14
I’m old enough that people might not even know who I’m talking about but I met Kurt Vonnegut. He was a little abashed that I thought he was so cool and let him know it lol but he was very gracious and pretty funny.
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18points
#15
Not that anyone expected any differently or better — but James Franco smells really really badly, often doesn’t speak/respond when directly spoken to (but will look at you like *you’re* the idiot) and made a suggestive innuendo out of something I said within the first 30 minutes of me working for him.
He also laughed when a PA fell over while setting up video village
Some other random run-ins from my former life:
Tim McGraw is really quiet and always smells like illegal substances, which frankly makes me like him more.
Danny McBride is the nicest actor I’ve ever worked with
Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon and his wife (Lilly Aldridge) are surprisingly down to earth and both stopped to hold a door open for me once
Taylor Swift had a giant, human-sized bird cage in the middle of her living room in her penthouse at The Adelicia building in nashville (not sure if she even still owns it).
He also laughed when a PA fell over while setting up video village
Some other random run-ins from my former life:
Tim McGraw is really quiet and always smells like illegal substances, which frankly makes me like him more.
Danny McBride is the nicest actor I’ve ever worked with
Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon and his wife (Lilly Aldridge) are surprisingly down to earth and both stopped to hold a door open for me once
Taylor Swift had a giant, human-sized bird cage in the middle of her living room in her penthouse at The Adelicia building in nashville (not sure if she even still owns it).
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17points
Granted, there are enough cases of celebs proving them to be nice humans; not all of them are vicious animals. But still, the bad stories are still common enough to make a point that sometimes it’s best to leave the idolizing out of real life.
Have you ever met a person you admired? How did it go?
#16
I was a waitress at a celebrity hotspot for years. i’ve waited on so many celebs. the top nicest were : Pink, Matthew Perry, Britney Spears
the worst : the Olsen Twins (who at 22 years old got offended that i carded them for alcohol), and Jamie Lynn Spears, who threw a fit that we didn’t have sweet tea, then went on a rant about how she forgot she wasn’t in the south and how bad LA is lol.
the worst : the Olsen Twins (who at 22 years old got offended that i carded them for alcohol), and Jamie Lynn Spears, who threw a fit that we didn’t have sweet tea, then went on a rant about how she forgot she wasn’t in the south and how bad LA is lol.
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15points
#17
I worked at a mall J. Crew in college when Steve Carrell was filming “Evan Almighty” in town. He came in pretty regularly to buy socks and khakis and was always so chill. We all had a massive laugh one day when he came in to return something because store policy is to ask for photo ID and he just said, “Oh man, really?” and then everyone just laughed. He was such a good sport about it.
Sissy Spacek shopped at the same store a lot and she is a GEM of a human. Utterly delightful, kind, and generous.
Not really a “meet your hero” thing but many years ago I was (emphasis on “many years ago” and “was”) a fan of Dave Chapelle. He was doing a live show in our town, we waited in line for tickets, and were so excited to go. The show was AWFUL. He was so drunk that he could barely stand up, let alone speak or perform, and he basically just yelled at the audience and made some really gross comments about women and gay people. Needless to say, I stopped being a fan at that point and wasn’t surprised when his current problematic stances became well-known.
Sissy Spacek shopped at the same store a lot and she is a GEM of a human. Utterly delightful, kind, and generous.
Not really a “meet your hero” thing but many years ago I was (emphasis on “many years ago” and “was”) a fan of Dave Chapelle. He was doing a live show in our town, we waited in line for tickets, and were so excited to go. The show was AWFUL. He was so drunk that he could barely stand up, let alone speak or perform, and he basically just yelled at the audience and made some really gross comments about women and gay people. Needless to say, I stopped being a fan at that point and wasn’t surprised when his current problematic stances became well-known.
15points
#18
Once met Amy Poheler at an ice cream shop, she was incredibly kind and didn’t mind the quick chat. She complimented my shirt, too.
When I was a teenager (2009 or 2010?) my friend and I ran into Jared Leto before a show of his. We asked for a picture, which he put a middle finger in the middle of his face, obstructing himself in the picture. He just walked off afterward and didn’t say anything.
We literally stood there in disbelief that we just met Jared Leto and he also told us to get lost, basically. Whenever I tell that people who’ve met him, they aren’t surprised.
When I was a teenager (2009 or 2010?) my friend and I ran into Jared Leto before a show of his. We asked for a picture, which he put a middle finger in the middle of his face, obstructing himself in the picture. He just walked off afterward and didn’t say anything.
We literally stood there in disbelief that we just met Jared Leto and he also told us to get lost, basically. Whenever I tell that people who’ve met him, they aren’t surprised.
14points
#19
When I was 5 we were on the Martha's Vineyard ferry. All I remember was my 20-something cousin grabbing me and putting me on some man's lap and taking a photo. He was incredibly nice but I was so confused. I still remember to this day how weird it was to be put on a stranger's lap!
Turns out it was Bill Murray and my dad treasures that photo to this day. He is so proud. They said he was very nice and they did ask first, but as a kid all I remember was just being placed in his lap lol.
Turns out it was Bill Murray and my dad treasures that photo to this day. He is so proud. They said he was very nice and they did ask first, but as a kid all I remember was just being placed in his lap lol.
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14points
#20
My coworker’s daughter (9 at the time) met Raven Symone after winning a contest and she was really rude when she asked to take a picture with her. She said “You get a handshake or a picture and I just shook your hand so you’re done, go.”
On the reverse I met Tegan and Sara and was so completely star struck I couldn’t speak and Tegan said “Hi sweetie, do you want to take a picture with us?” And it’s one of my favorite memories haha.
On the reverse I met Tegan and Sara and was so completely star struck I couldn’t speak and Tegan said “Hi sweetie, do you want to take a picture with us?” And it’s one of my favorite memories haha.
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12points