“That’s upsetting,” the ‘Stranger Things’ actress, who is now 21 years old, recalls saying following the woman’s revelation, while her daughter, who was stunned, said, “Mom, what the f–k?”
Gaten Matarazzo, who plays the role of Stranger Things, has been a significant celebrity in the public eye for about a decade now, which means that he has had a lot of unusual experiences with his fans. However, one of these conversations has particularly stuck out for being more than just “a little uncomfortable.”
It seems that the actor, who is now 21 years old, was only 13 years old when the blockbuster Netflix series originally swept the country by storm, and it was at that time that he first drew the attention of one of his fans.
With regard to such fan events, Matarazzo said in an interview with Michael Rosenbaum on his Inside of You podcast, “I did one very recently — and this is not very funny, but the reactions around it were quite funny — where this woman in her forties said straight up, ‘I’ve had a crush on you since you were 13’.”
Matarazzo remembered his rapid response, as well as the reactions of those who were present at the public event. I thought to myself, ‘That’s quite disturbing.’ He remarked, “I’m sure she just meant, ‘Aw, this kid’s cute,'” before admitting that she meant precisely what she said. “I guess she just meant it.”
I was like, ‘I’m conscious of the age gap.'” she said. A moment later, I thought to myself, ‘Alright,'” Matarazzo recalled. “And her daughter was with her, and her daughter goes, ‘Mom, what the f–k?’ I swear to God.” Additionally, he said that the girl was around 13 years old herself.
When asked about the event, the actor said that he was unable to even get himself to chuckle about it. Instead, he stated that he just glanced over at his mother, who was also there on the dais with him. In reference to the recollection, he said, “That was a difficult experience.”
Matarazzo has stated his endless gratitude for what Stranger Things has done for him, as well as his complete contentment if this turns out to be the pinnacle of his career. This may be said despite the fact that he has sometimes encountered fans who have been doubtful.
In the world of work, there are always high points and values. “With this show, it is quite clear, and I am very well aware of it. I would like my professional team to understand that I am very okay with Stranger Things being very likely the biggest thing I will ever do,” he stated. “I am very well aware of it.” “And it will most likely be the thing I am remembered for even if I consistently work after this.”
As far as he is concerned, his work on this series “facilitates happiness going forward, security, and more work going forward,” so what more could he possibly want?
“I don’t want to maintain a sense of relevance at this point when it isn’t even something I particularly enjoy that much,” he said to reporters.
Stranger Things, which was created by the Duffer Brothers as a tribute to the horror genre of the 1980s, became an instant smash upon its first release in 2016, and it has been an integral part of the dominant cultural consciousness ever since. It is now in the process of filming its fifth and final season, which is scheduled to make its debut on Netflix in the year 2025.