Being a celebrity means having fans who want a picture, a quick chat, or even just a moment of their time.
But for Jenna Ortega, those encounters can sometimes feel overwhelming.
The Wednesday star opened up about the pressure of meeting fans during an October 22 podcast appearance, explaining why she doesn’t always feel comfortable stopping for photos.
Highlights
- Jenna Ortega explained that Disney's media training taught her to remember how meaningful a brief interaction with a celebrity could be for a fan.
- The “Wednesday” star said she did not always feel comfortable stopping for photos with strangers.
- While some viewers accused Ortega of acting entitled, others defended her right to set boundaries.
While some people understood her need for personal boundaries, others weren’t impressed by her comments.
“Sorry this is so f**king pretentious I cannot—she’s talking like we’re peasants or something.”
Jenna Ortega revealed how Disney taught her to treat every fan meeting as a special moment
Ortega began acting professionally when she was just nine years old. She later became a Disney Channel star on Stuck in the Middle, where she played Harley Diaz.
During her conversation with podcast host Josh Horowitz, the actress explained that Disney had provided media training to its young performers. The training taught them to remember how much a brief meeting with a celebrity could mean to a fan.
Horowitz asked Ortega how many young people approach her because they want to feel seen by someone they admire. He also wondered whether the constant attention could become overwhelming.
“Yes and no,” Ortega replied, then explained what she had learned as a child star.
“When I was young, and I was on Disney Channel, they took us to, like, media training, and they told us: ‘You know, every time someone meets you, it’s probably the only time they’re ever going to interact with you. That’s a very special moment in their lives, so just be aware of that.’”
Ortega followed the explanation with a sarcastic, “No pressure.”
She admitted that the lesson had stayed with her for years. While she understood why a meeting could be meaningful to a fan, she also felt that she needed to establish healthier boundaries as an adult.
Ortega does not always feel comfortable taking pictures with fans
The 24-year-old went on to explain that she was trying to give herself more freedom to decide when she wanted to interact with strangers.
“So maybe, if I feel like it’s not so safe of a situation, or maybe I don’t want to stop and agree to take a photo with a random grown man, but kids and things like that, of course,” she explained.
“It is a lot, though,” she said. “And again, it’s sweet. Like, some of the interactions are so sweet, and some of them are a little bit more embarrassing, or aggressive, or mean. And it’s hard to know what the balance is… But I do what I can.”
Her comments sounded dismissive to several netizens, with one writing, “That's so pathetic she didn't even give her fans attention.”
Another predicted that the actress might regret her attitude in the future, saying, “She's gonna hit about 28, and she will be begging fans to recognize her.”
A third said, “She is so annoying, a terrible actress, only has good looks.”
Detractors accused Ortega of acting like she is better than everyone else
The strongest criticism focused on the idea that Ortega appeared to view fan interactions as an obligation rather than an opportunity to connect with people who supported her work.
A commenter wrote, “It’s weird because she’s under a spell that makes her believe she’s a special person, which subconsciously makes people worship her and, in turn, reinforces that belief..”
Others questioned whether Ortega had earned the level of attention she received. “How does she have fans when she hasn’t been in one good movie?”
Another comment aimed at her career choices said, “Well, she won't have to worry about being approached in public by fans if she keeps joining awful projects.”
However, the backlash also brought out people who believed the criticism had gone too far.
One supporter said, “I get her; I wouldn’t want to be taking pics with random grown men either.”
Meanwhile, others blamed Disney’s media training approach, with one saying, “Disney is brainwashing child actors to act like theme park mascots for life.”
“Remember, you're probably the 45th person they've met that day, so be kind,” one more wrote.
Ortega revealed her plans to take a break from television after Wednesday
During the interview, Horowitz asked whether she had been considering other franchises.
Ortega said she had not had many opportunities to join another one and wanted to leave room for different opportunities.
“But what I’m meant to do will come and find me,” she said.
“I think after Wednesday, I’ll probably be off the TV for a while,” the actress continued. “I was bouncing from show to show as a kid, and I want to leave time for new things.”
Her comments do not mean she is leaving Wednesday or that the upcoming third season will be the show’s last.
Production on the third season has wrapped, but Netflix has not announced an exact release date.
The actress has also built a film career with projects including Scream, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and Klara and the Sun.
“The best interaction is no interaction when it comes to celebrities,” wrote one netizen
