#1
#2
#3
We know logically that celebrities are people just like us, but for some reason, it can be hard to view them that way when we see them in person. We may have been watching them for years in films or on shows, playing professional sports on TV, or attending their concerts with thousands of other fans, but it can be very jarring to run into them. We often know so much about them that it can be hard to play it cool, and especially if we are a big fan, we can feel pressure to make the encounter meaningful or memorable. “Should I ask for an autograph? Should I even say hello? Should I compliment them? Or should I just leave them alone?”
Regardless of how awkward or strange an experience is with a celebrity, clearly they are usually memorable. The stories shared on Reddit may make you want to never run into a celebrity on your own time, but they also are amusing to read. I used to live in Los Angeles, and I have a variety of brief encounters with celebrities or times I’ve spotted them from a distance. But I never was bold enough to acknowledge who they are. I just smiled, nodded, and gave the minimum amount of a polite response when, for example, Cameron Diaz told me, “I have to pee, but I’ll be right back!” at an event I was working.
#4
When I was a toddler we went to a Saint Paul Saints game. Bill Murray was there with a bunch of press for some reason that I am unaware of. He happened to encounter my mother holding me, and in a very Bill Murray way he took the pacifier out of my mouth and popped it into his mouth. The press laughed and I, apparently, in a huff, ripped it out of his mouth and put it back into mine.
Ta-da.
#5
While the ball was in the air this huge man knocks me over trying to catch the ball and knocks it back onto the field. The player runs over and starts screaming at the guy in a combination of English and Spanish and actually got the guy thrown out of the park. Then he had me lean over the wall and he jumped up and placed the ball in my glove. And told me to enjoy the game.
#6
We really should not become so starstruck, but sometimes, we just can’t help it. Plenty of us have trouble striking up a conversation with a person we have a crush on or get nervous when we have to do a presentation at work, so speaking to a famous person who we are shocked to have run into in the first place can feel extremely overwhelming. Plus, you never know how they will react. To give some of these stars the benefit of the doubt, you have no way of knowing what kind of day they were having before these encounters.
I have certainly been short with a grocery store cashier or unintentionally bumped into someone while rushing down the street if I was in a hurry or dealing with a mountain of stress that day. 99% of the time I am kind and patient with strangers, but I know that the 1% of the time I am having an off-day, no one will know. Imagine being a celebrity who can’t even pick up some groceries or play with their children on the beach without being approached or photographed. Every encounter they have might be scrutinized and documented, so of course, there will be times where they are caught on less than their best behavior.
#7
#8
#9
I also cannot imagine how it feels to have a lack of privacy and personal space. Sometimes fans don’t understand that, regardless of how well they think they know a star from watching all of their work, following them on social media and studying their interviews, they do not actually have a relationship with them. If a random stranger approached you on the street asking for a photograph or expecting to have a conversation with you, you would likely be very put-off and might react in a way that seems rude. Celebrities have to deal with that all the time. In no way am I saying that they should have a free pass to be jerks or receive special treatment everywhere they go, but they are human beings too. And we should all be afforded personal space and boundaries, everywhere we go.
#10
#11
#12
Sometimes celebrities also have to be wary of how welcoming they are towards the advances of strangers because they have no way of knowing if they are in danger or not. Similarly to how women often come off as rude to creepy men who make them feel uncomfortable and unsafe, famous people have to keep a bit of a guard up as well. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for celebrities to be stalked by dangerous fans. Justin Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and many more stars have had to take legal action against stalkers in the past. In fact, when one man was arrested after stalking Taylor Swift at her Los Angeles home, his car was found to have ammunition, a rope and gloves in it. Regardless of how you feel about Taylor Swift as an artist, it’s frightening to imagine what he could have been planning.
#13
#14
#15
If you find yourself in a situation where you spot one of your favorite actors or musicians in public, it might be hard to know whether you should approach them or not. But in general, I would recommend keeping your distance, especially if they are busy. If they are enjoying a meal with their family or friends, playing with their kids at the park, shopping for groceries, or grabbing a cup of coffee, they likely do not want to be bothered. It might be okay to say hello or let them know that you love their work, but asking for a photo or autograph will probably come off as rude. They just want to enjoy their life like everyone else, and I doubt you would enjoy it if every time you left your home, you were bombarded with requests for photos.
#16
#17
#18
Now, if you are required to interact with a famous person at work, if they come in as a customer or you are catering an event full of stars, it’s best to keep calm and collected. They just wanted to be treated like regular people (for the most part, assuming they don’t have a massive ego and expect special treatment everywhere they go). Don’t stare or speak to them like they are aliens. Don’t do anything that goes beyond your job description. But if you work at a coffee shop and you are used to asking every customer how their day is going and striking up a short conversation, go ahead and do the same. For all they know, you might not even recognize them. So you can chat with them about the weather or whatever else is typical to talk to your customers about and then wish them a great day. If they are treated normally and get to avoid any awkward interactions, they are more likely to come back as well. I’m sure there are few places stars go where they can actually feel normal for a moment, so they are likely to cling to those places.
#19
