From afar, fans barely see beyond the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown, but in reality, not everything that shines is a diamond. There is no denying the high points of stardom. Likewise, the negative aspects of fame bear visibility in abundance. In the domain of childhood celebrities, especially, drawbacks often outweigh benefits, as artists ranging from Billie Eilish to Justin Bieber have publicly acknowledged. Adding to these concerns is Gaten Matarazzo, the Stranger Things actor, who recently revealed a troubling experience.

Matarazzo disclosed some disturbing details from his days of preteen fame as a Netflix star, reflecting on one of his horrific memories.

Gaten Matarazzo may have begun his days of fame in the world of Upside Down, but little did he know that the premature glory could even turn his world upside down. In a recent appearance on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Matarazzo recalled one of the most horrific fan interactions when a 40-year-old woman confessed to having a crush on him since he was 13. The 21-year-old could not resist expressing the discomfort saying, “that’s upsetting”.

Matarazzo explained that he initially dismissed the compliment as a passing gesture of affection. However, the situation escalated when the woman acknowledged the age difference, leaving Matarazzo taken aback by her audacity. He continued that the presence of the woman's daughter, who exclaimed, “What the f**k?” only added to the awkwardness of the moment.

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Matarazzo also mentioned a few incidents of "b*tt grabs" while discussing the traumatic experience. While it might appear that he is facing these challenges alone in the world of childhood stardom, even his co-star, Millie Bobby Brown, has had her fair share of negative fan encounters.

With fame comes the necessity of developing a thick skin. While Billie Eilish and Justin Bieber have openly struggled with this, Millie Bobby Brown has stood out by never hesitating to call out fans who do not respect boundaries. In December 2020, Brown tearfully recounted a disturbing fan encounter on her Instagram stories when she was only 16.

Brown remembered going Christmas shopping with her mother when a fan approached to confirm her identity. When asked for a video, Brown politely declined, but the fan crossed a line and began filming without her consent. While Matarazzo's situation may differ in specifics, the underlying issue of boundaries being disrespected and consent being ignored is similar.

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What do you think of the Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo's horrific fan encounter as a child actor? Let us know in the comments below!