As an only child, I liked to play bonding games with my parents as though we were new friends who were just getting to know each other. One of the most memorable questions I generated was “Who was the most famous person you’ve ever met?”
My dad works as a cameraman and growing up he was constantly traveling to film different events, particularly concerts. He worked closely with a number of celebrities, and his answer was either the time that he went out with Shakira after one of her shows or having a conversation with Britney Spears. “Oh, I also held hands with Michelle Obama one time. We were on set, and she stood next to me during a prayer circle.” He didn’t even smile when he told me this – he just kept eating his sandwich and watching Chicago P.D.
It took my mom a long time to conjure up an instance in which she interacted with a celebrity, which is substantially shocking considering that her answer was ultimately the time she rode in an elevator with George Clooney.Â
“Did you talk to him?” I asked.Â
“I think I just smiled at him, I’m not really sure,” she responded.Â
I asked her if she fully comprehended who he was and all that he’s accomplished.Â
“Yeah, who cares? One time Julia Roberts ate at the table next to me when I was in California,” she responded. “They’re just average people who make movies for a living.”
They’re just average people. Many individuals are divided on the role that celebrities play in society. Are they really that important? Should people be looking up to them as role models? Those who answer “no” to these questions are just like my parents – they don’t find interacting with celebrities to be impressive. I, on the other hand, am the exact opposite. I will wait hours in the pouring rain, spam radio stations during giveaways and chase celebrities down the street just for a one-minute conversation. I am my parents’ worst nightmare.Â
Don’t get me wrong, I certainly recognize my flaws and how I may be perceived as “psychotic” and “obsessive” with “all the wrong priorities” (thank you, mom, for keeping me humbled), but I truly believe that the celebrity hype is worth it.Â
I’ve always been infatuated with celebrities and all things pertaining to pop culture, so it should come as no surprise that I’ve met a variety of celebrities. Since elementary school, I’ve met numerous Broadway stars, the casts of both Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, the band Why Don’t We, Max (who was seen on the Bachelor performing his song “Lights Down”), Dylan Minette, Lydia Night, Melissa and Kelly from Dance Moms, Darren Criss, Lewis Capaldi and Hugh Jackman. In case you were wondering, I think that the most impressive on this list is Hugh Jackman.Â
Meeting these celebrities was no easy feat, and I take immense pride in my dedication and work ethic. I met Why Don’t We a total of three times, each by winning a giveaway; I purchased tickets to meet the casts of the Chicago shows, Darren Criss, Melissa and Kelly, and Lewis Capaldi; Hugh Jackman and the Broadway stars required some stalking; and the rest was pure luck at Lollapalooza.Â
The first celebrity I met was Patrick Flueger, a cast member of Chicago P.D. This was arguably the most excited I’ve ever been in my whole life – my first real celebrity!! I told everyone I knew about the conversation we had, even though only a handful of people genuinely knew who he was.Â
Next, I met Why Don’t We, which was the second most exciting experience I had. The first time I met them I cried and was convinced that each individual member of the band was in love with me. I met them two times after that, and they slowly began to remember me. Despite this, the excitement faded just a bit with every encounter – they no longer held the “royalty” status that I had assigned them. They seemed almost… normal?
Every celebrity encounter after that held a similar experience – the excitement remained, but I worshipped them less and less. The dwindling idolization did not take away from the experience, in fact, it had the contradictory effect; it made the conversations much more meaningful. The more I engaged with pop culture figures, the more I realized that they were just average people. As opposed to freaking out and asking for a picture (except with Hugh Jackman), I find greater fulfillment in asking them about their experiences and hearing how drastically different they are from mine.Â
Not only have I viewed these experiences as beneficial on a personal level, but celebrities also tend to gain satisfaction from these encounters as well. In 2016, Forbes contacted a variety of talent agencies to learn more about the major concerns of their highly successful clients, and found that 41.8% of these individuals fear being taken advantage of by family and friends (Prince). These spontaneous interactions with the “common folk” don’t offer the opportunity for celebrities to be taken advantage of – in the grand scheme of things, these random individuals don’t hold genuine significance in their lives. Brief encounters will be quickly forgotten. While taking a picture every time they exit their home may certainly be exhausting, many of these interactions provide a momentary escape from the overwhelming pressures of fame and provide the opportunity to engage with those outside of the media.Â
So, yes, even though I don’t glorify celebrities anymore, I will still wait hours in the pouring rain, spam radio stations during giveaways and chase celebrities down the street just for a one-minute conversation, because so much can happen in those 60 seconds. Since my fascination with meeting celebrities began, my perspective has greatly changed. I’ve learned bits about the process of creating blockbuster movies, how to overcome nerves when performing for over ten thousand people and how dramatized the events were on Dance Moms. I learned that at the end of the day, they look forward to being able to turn off their phones and go to bed.Â
I hate to admit it, but my mom was right. Celebrities are just average people. They’re just like you and they’re just like me. But that’s what makes them more special.