Pretty much all of Comicon was awesome. However, there was one thing that was decidedly not awesome, and though I had initially decided not to talk about it in public, it's bothered me since it happened, so I wrote about it on G+ earlier today.
I'm cross posting it here, though, because it's important to me:
On the way out of the Syfy party on Saturday night, a pretty horrible thing happened. I wasn't going to talk about it in public, but I can't stop thinking about it, and I think this needs to be said.
When I was a Teen Idol*, and I traveled to New York for publicity all the time, it was fairly common for a handful of super weird people to hang out all day in front of my hotel, or in the lobby of my hotel, so they could pounce on me whenever I tried to enter or leave, and demand as many autographs as they could. It was really creepy and awful, and I always hated it. It was more than a little scary. I mean, who in the world spends an entire day sitting in one place waiting for someone? Oh, I know: crazy people.
So, crazy people, pay attention: If you camp out in front of my hotel while I am on location or visiting a city, if you camp out in front of a party I'm attending … basically, if you camp out anywhere so you can shove a stack of 8x10s into my face when I'm trying to enter or leave a location, I'm not going to sign them, and I'm not going to be nice about it.
I refuse to reward or validate that kind of behavior, and I'm done being polite about it.
When we walked out of the SyFy party on Saturday night, a pack of people — probably 12 or 15, I'd guess — appeared out of nowhere, and surrounded me. They shoved pictures into my face, thrust pens at me, and made it so that I couldn't even move. They separated me from my friends and my son, and, quite frankly, terrified me.
Let's stop for a second and think about this: in what kind of world is it acceptable to surround a person you do not know, separate them from the people they are with, and essentially trap them? Maybe in crazy entitled psycho world, but not the world I live in.
I tried to scrawl my signature on a couple of things, just so some of those people would move and let me keep on walking, but whenever someone took something away, something new immediately took its place. Somehow, +Felicia Day saved me. She reached through the mob, grabbed my hand, and said, "Sorry, we have to go meet some of our friends," before the literally pulled me away, to safety.
This is when the mob lost its shit. They yelled at me like I had done something wrong. They called me names, and they booed at me. (Seriously). A woman stormed up next to me and said, "If you don't sign these things for me, I'm going to tell Twitter what an asshole you really are."
I don't respond well to threats like that. Though my instinct was to explode at her, I took a deep breath, looked her square in the eye, turned on my dad voice, and said, "Really? Are you serious? We're done here." I quickened my pace, and for the next two blocks she followed us, screaming and ranting and raving about how she'd waited there for hours, driven all the way from someplace far, and that I basically owed her as a result of her choice. I eventually tuned her out, and I guess she went back to the Syfy party to harass whoever else came out next.
The whole thing was really scary, made me feel like a sideshow freak, and made me really, really angry. I was just trying to walk out of a hotel and go meet up with my friends. I didn't do anything wrong, and I'm not going to apologize forgetting upset about it.
This is important: I realize that just about anyone reading this on my blog isn't one of Those Guys. Please don't think the "you" here refers to, you know, you.
This is also important: When your motto is "don't be a dick," a certain kind of person is vigilantly looking for moments like this when you can be accused of violating your own motto, thereby proving to the entire world that you are, in fact, a giant lying pile of shit. I'm fairly certain that reasonable people can see who the dick was in this situation, and hopefully agree that it was not me. For everyone else: go fuck yourself.**
In Dancing Barefoot, I wrote about signing autographs at conventions:
Over the years, I've learned something from this experience: it's never about the signature. It's about that brief moment, that brief encounter with a Star Trek cast member, that is so important to the fans. That 30 seconds or so of hopefully undivided attention is what they're really paying for, and I always do my best to make sure they get their money's worth. Contrary to popular belief, sitting at a table signing hundreds of autographs for several hours without a break is hard. It's not just mindlessly scrawling my name; It's stopping and listening to the always excited, sometimes shaking, always sweating, sometimes scary dude who wants to know exactly why I did “X” on episode “Y” and would I please sign his picture in silver, because Marina signed it in gold and now he wants the men in silver and the women in gold, and I hated your character and here are 25 reasons why and I expect an answer for each one of them and I'm not leaving until I'm satisfied.
The crazy people who camp out don't care about that brief moment, that brief encounter. The crazy people only care about taking a piece of $Celebrity.person and possibly selling it, or hording it, or … you know, I don't even want to think about where that path leads.But that's why they behave the way they do. It isn't about our work, or about saying "thank you" or "high-five!" or anything about that. It's about entitlement and being crazy, and I will not validate or condone that kind of behavior ever again.
I realize that a crazy person who thinks it's entirely normal and not psycho to camp out in front of a hotel for hours and hours so they can trap a person isn't going to understand why I will not validate that behavior, but I need to make this clear for the future: I'm a person. I am a human being and if you cut me I will bleed. I'm happy to sign things and take pictures with people in appropriate situations, but if some dude violates my personal space or freaks me out, and then gets mad at me when I try to get away from him, I'm not going to do anything beyond telling that person to go fuck himself, and I'm not going to feel bad about it. To paraphrase Neil Gaiman, I am not your bitch.
Finally: In before the inevitable "you're an actor and you chose this so you deserve what you get so suck it up because my life harder than yours because blah blah blah" comment (probably not here, but definitely at G+.)
*LOL.
**See? I don't even feel bad. (Well, maybe a little bit. I need to work harder on it, I suppose.)
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Oh man. Don’t worry Wil, nobody is going to think you are an ass because you don’t like to be stalked. At least not the people you care about and who care about you 🙂
Thanks for sharing. The way you told the story was the exact right way if you ask me. Especially the “I don’t mean you, I mean you” part and the “I know I won’t reach the creeps” and the quote from Dancing Barefooot shows that you really think about these things and that worth so much.
Perfect post on this topic. Kudos 🙂
Grrr…it’s nutjobs like that who can give fandom as a whole a bad name. People, if you see this kind of thing happening, step up!
Hah forget pictures. Can you imagine where your liver would be if you “had a beer” with everyone that requested it?
I’m already trying to figure out how I can make money off your funeral…
😉
About 2 years ago, I was walking into my usual haunt here in Nashville when I spotted John Paul Jones. THE John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. I had to do a double take, but yeah, it was him. ‘Holy shit’, I thought. The man was eating, so I let him be. I sat about 6 feet from him. Good enough.
Not to mention…what the fuck would I have to say to him? “Hi Mr. Jones, you’re only part of the rock pantheon, a successful producer…and…I’m a schlub.”
Still….
DUDE!!!!
It was John Paul Fucking Jones!!!
Your ‘ saying hi to Nathan Fillion by nodding and saying “Captain.” ‘ comment made me laugh because I get that response all the time when I wear my Captain Hammer t-shirt (sadly I don’t remotely look like Nathan Fillion).
I wonder if more people call him that because of the Captain Reynolds role or the Captain Hammer role.
"The best part of this reading experience for me has been reading the comments. No jerks, just the most awesome types of nerds."
Yeah, me too 🙂
I know I have better things to do than camp out ANYWHERE other than, say, the woods. Especially if I’ve driven all the way from outer Kooktopia to SDCC (since, you know, I’d rather spend time AT SDCC). But, assuming some of these people with too much time are actually fans and not profit-hounds, I can see why they’d feel hurt and betrayed. In their minds, they’re showing massive dedication to their appreciation of your work, and their crazy minds think that, surely, you must appreciate this level of devotion. Not, that you’d think, “umm… why are you crazy?” But hey, that’s what happens you irrationally idolize someone.
I imagine that there has to be less-intrusive ways to get an autograph from you if they so desired. It isn’t like your autograph cures cancer (unless it does, in which case – totally justified).
Regardless, now you have this post to refer back to when people hound you. “If you were REALLY a fan, you’d already know how I feel about this.” Kind of like all the Twitter followers who thought your sons were 6 months old or something and had no idea of your history with them.
Anyway, if you want to reply, I’m the guy in the green Speedo hiding in your trash can who left the trail of Guinness leading from your front door to the garbage. Although maybe I should have waited until I knew you were home, so you didn’t think it was a trail of Guinness from your trash to the front door… hrmm….
Man!
You are soooooooooo right about been “A dick for the moment”, but that was absolutely right to do at the time!
I know that you’re not a dick!
And I don’t think, that you should feel sick about that afterall.
Be the way you are, an give a damn on supid people, when the time is right….. ist was right at this time!
All things said according to this….
Please go on doing your things… love to read your blog 🙂
And health to you an your entire family 🙂
I imagine that must have been scary and uncomfortable for you. I am a Trekkie for some 20-something years now, I don’t collect the autographs (in fact, I often give them to other people). I always liked the panels most where I can listen to you guys answering questions, sharing stories etc. and as for the autograph sessions, you are absolutely right, it is about those few seconds where you can exchange a word or two or a smile.
I feel that I should apologize for other people who are dicks. I’m in no way responsible for them, but I just feel like someone should say “Sorry”.
At least the rest of Comic Con was fun.
Sorry you had to go through that; some people just have no respect for privacy or personal boundaries. It’s a shame that people have to resort to douchebaggery because they want to get a piece of fame.
I already commented at G+ but I want to say here that when I met you, I was almost afraid to approach you. Maybe not afraid, but shy, and I’ve met so many of my Xena/Herc hunks (yes, I said hunks) and probably didn’t need to feel shy around you. It took my husband (he’s a good husband) to prod me along and it ended up being a great experience. You are a super sweet fella and those people who think otherwise should probably look in the mirror with a more thoughtful eye. 😉 Sorry you had to go through that mob and I will take down anyone who says you’re anything other than a gracious and generous fella to his fans.
On the whole ‘You’re an actor so you chose this’ inanity — to whoever thinks that, the logic completely falls apart, because your son sure as hell didn’t fucking choose to watch his dad be accosted by twats with an overactive sense of entitlement.
Thank You for writing about your bad experience. SDCC is insanely expensive and it has become so big that security issues are even more problematic then ever. I will stick with events were fans & the talent feel safe. I had a bad experience with fanatic behavior at a Con in 2007. Those creeps know how to suck all the fun out of everything.
I hear that this also happened to Nathan Fillion on the same night. No need to answer just pointing out how these folks are out of control.
Anyhow, I only attend Cons with my husband so I can also feel safe. Again, these events are just getting to big for security to handle.
Hope to see you again at PAX this year. So far that is my favorite event to meet other nerds & play games. I was with the group of ladies who had their boob signed by your last year. I remember you saying you were burnt out & wasn’t sure if you wanted to do signing but I am glad you did! Everyone was polite & we all had a good time with you.
I think a better way to look at it is, these people aren’t coming to you in the correct venue for this behavior. Like Neil, I’m sure you do lots of signings so people can get these moment or get your scrawl on their ebay fodder. There’s a time and a place. If they don’t respect that, why should you respect them? There’s also no reason to worry if a fringe group of “fans*” that like ambushing you think you’re a dick. If they think you’re a dick, maybe they’ll leave you alone. Maybe they’ll tell their whole circle of stalkers that they should not bother trying to ambush Wil Wheaton because you won’t get anything. Anyone that reads your twitter, website, books (goddamn you’re prolific) knows that you are a genuine human being first, and someone who signs autographs much further down the line. The people that genuinely like your work and want that 30 seconds to ask a question or compliment you, or say they hate Wesley will get those 30 seconds in the correct venue. Those that want their piece of flesh can yell into the bitter echo cavern of stalkers everywhere.
*Not really fans
I didn’t really get into playing poker until after reading your blog and seeing how much you enjoyed it. I once had the privilege of playing poker with you on Pokerstars (man I miss online poker). It was all going great until someone made a comment that was taken in the context of “stepping over the line and getting into Wil’s private/family life”. I remember my heart sinking with the thought that you might associate me with a bad experience and put you off of playing online games with us norms. Fortunately, you diffused the situation with a warning and then a fart joke. After that, we all had a good time playing.
Meeting people you admire reminds me very much of grade school and trying to impress “the cool kids”. You so desperately want their mutual respect. That’s really hard to do when the available time is only a few minutes. I’m glad you understand what it’s like meeting your heroes. It’s too bad you had a bad experience at Comic Con and I know something like this will inevitably happen again to you. I’m just thankful that you can rise above it and not be a dick.
Just wanted to add to the numbers — FWIW, every time I see something like this happen to a Famous-Type Person, I wonder why the person isn’t *more* of a dick. It baffles me how people seem to regard public figures as only commodities who have no rights or feelings. Even if you guys know what you’re getting into, there’s a fucking limit.
You know you’re well within your rights. Don’t worry about people thinking you’re a dick. Go out there and crack some entitled skulls (figuratively). Even the politest celebrities have some nutso fans who just want to spread vicious rumors. I don’t know what kind of head injuries they sustained as children, but it’s sad.
I’m very happy to hear you’re Officially Decreeing that you will never indulge this behavior, and I hope it influences others to do the same. A person should be able to have a successful career in film/tv without it being at the cost of their health and safety. I can understand why some mega-famous people would want to keep an amicable relationship with the paps, but the people who seem to volunteer for and thrive in that kind of constantly-mobbed lifestyle… I wonder what kind of head injuries they sustained as children.
This kind of thing is why I prefer any of the three lesser packed cons in the Los Angeles area. SDCC is a zoo.
I am sorry you had to go through that. I have camped outside venues to meet people, but I am far from one of those lunatics. For me it truly is about the oppurtunity to meet someone I admire and respect and thank them. If it doesn’t work out and they don’t want to sign, oh well.
I hate hearing these stories about people who have no sense of boundaries. With the Glee Tour this summer, it’s been sad hearing about Darren Criss getting grabbed by the head during the show and kissed against his will. Or the crazy woman who yanked him off the stage while he was shaking hands – if he hadn’t gotten his feet underneath him, he would have fallen head-first into a metal barrier. And it’s depressing to hear someone as sweet as Chris Colfer talk about “stupidly” going to the movies alone and getting so mobbed he had to call the police and came home covered in bruises. He has to consider something as simple as going to the movies alone “stupid” because of security issues.
Who thinks “Man, I love this person! I should make them unhappy, assault them physically, insult them and possible scare them away from fans forever!”? That mindset is just so messed up.
Wil, it is people like them that give all fans a bad name. Not all of us are like that, obviously or you would and most all other celebrities would not never venture out in Public. What you choose to do for work is no different thn what us “normal,” non-celebrities choose to do for work. Its jsut that, a job, a way to put food on he table and a roof over our heads. The only difference is that what you do, provides a bit of an escape from the day to day drugery of life for the rest of us. But it is still a job, and like all jobs, it comes with some other responsibilities, that aren’t quite in the “job description” but are part of it nontheless, the “other duties as assigned” stuff.
I doubt you remember, but at PAX East 2010, you came down to the Hotel bar after the first day, with a bunch of your friends and behind you there was a group of people recording a pod cast. That was me and a bunch of my friends. The funny thing about that is when you came in we were actually talking about you and your Keynote at that exact moment in time.
Just wanted to share that story with you and to say thanks for everything and being so honest with us, when you really have no reason to be so open and public with everything.
Best wishes.
Dude, people are freaking nuts. I was wondering if there was any weirdness like that when I read your last post about ComiCon and you said you had to walk past all the people camped out or whatever.
I think you did the right thing. I don’t even think I would have held my tongue. You’re a better man than I, Wil Wheaton.
Ugh, people can be so selfish and self-centered sometimes.
When I’ve attended Dragon*Con in the past, I spotted celebrities walking around like normal people (!), but I went out of my way not to bother them. The most I’ve done is say “Hey! Jerry Doyle!” as I walked past him while going into one of the hotels, and he High-Five’d me.
I’ll admit that if I’d seen you gaming at GenCon, I would have felt tempted to come up and talk to you, Wil, but I would ultimately resist that temptation… ’cause honestly, you’re gaming! I don’t think that I’d want anyone to come up and interrupt me when I was trying to have fun playing a game.
I’m glad that Felicia was looking out for you this time, and that you were looking out for her last time. That’s what Con-Buddies are for!
I waited in line last year at GenCon for an autograph and a quick, thanks for being cool comment and that was great. It was worth every minute for me, and hopefully you get an xp point or two every time someone tells you what a great job you do representing our community/hobbies/geekdom. But for the life of me I cannot fathom what drives people to be such entitled pricks in the situation you describe.
Here’s what I’m suggesting regarding your post today. We as a community (and don’t let anyone say geeks aren’t a community) need to stand up when we see this crap happening and tell people to back off, work with the Con security, and otherwise just set a good example.
Until these types of situations are so taboo that people who otherwise have no shame feel shamed, then they’ll continue to happen.
Then again, maybe I’m just being naieve and there will always be enough greedy asshats around no matter what other people do.
But I’d like to dream….
I’ve collected my fair share of autographs at Comic-Con over the years (in appropriate settings, never pouncing on people), and all those 8×10 glossies are stored away in random boxes somewhere and I don’t have any real memories to go with it. On the other hand, I’ve met Wil twice at random places: once at Strategicon and again last week at Stone Brewery (Best. Brewery. EVER.). I don’t have anything signed by him, but I have the much cooler memento of getting to chat with him for 2 minutes about board games and Stand By Me.
Wil, thanks for not being a dick, and for taking the time to chat with your fans, even when you’re not “on the clock”. And if I see you at Strategicon again, I challenge you to a game of Roll Through The Ages!
That makes sense about the pictures, I figured it was something like that. I hope you got to enjoy the floor!
I did make these for me and my brother.
Quick version: My friends and I camped out for episode one (pretty much the characters in “Fanboys”). A 12 year old kid inline behind us showed up in a cardboard TIE Fighter (the vehicle) costume his mom made him. I was blown away.
So in 2008 I paid homage and made a slightly sturdier version for my brother and I for Comic-Con. They were a huge hit and we show up if you search Google images – Tie fighter Costume – you will see us in our cardboard glory.
It’s been a few years, but I wanted to keep the same feel while taking it to the next level. So I built these out of PVC and cardboard.
I almost threw them out and didn’t wear them because I was just seeing all the flaws. Fortunately, we wore them and the crowd reaction made me the most happy person at the con.
I have ideas to try more in the next few years.
Am I the only person who reads all this and feels compelled to say “Wish she HAD bitched on Twitter. We could go all “Angry Birds” on her ass.”
Talk about a bunch of Psycho Hose Beasts. When I met John Scalzi, I was so nervous I was literally turning red. When I approached him, he was having a conversation with someone, so I didn’t want to freak him out and be some douchey fan and interrupt. So I waited till he was done and ready to talk to me. Then I politely said, sorry, didn’t want to be rude, introduced myself, gave him The BrainPal Inside shirt, and left. There is absolutely NO reason to be that way. I’m sure he appreciated the fact that I didn’t interrupt him and played it cool. And he wore the shirt the next day at the signing, and I couldn’t be happier. ‘Don’t be a dick’ is the best motto in the world, and should be used by everyone. Sorry you had to go through that. Weak dude, weak.
Baaahahaha! You are so right on! Excellent point.
I must admit I would have trouble with that rule on occasion as well. When I read folks asking “What would be appropriate?” All I can think is “What about squealing and flapping my hands?” cause that’s what I’d be doing. Can’t help it, I’m a fangirl thru and thru.
I’m sorry you had to go through that. You seem like such a nice guy, and your motto is excellent. It’s funny, I was never really a TNG fan, and I’m afraid a lot of your other work has passed me by, but I really enjoy reading your blog regularly, and own a couple of your books. Keep up the great work, keep being awesome, and try not to let the obsessive and entitled get you down.
Best regards, Matt
I wouldn’t validate behaviour like that either! I’m glad Felicia could pay you back and save your bacon. Just because someone is a celebrity doesn’t make them public property. You’re a person, and as such, deserve to be treated with the same respect as everyone else. If anything you deserve MORE respect for going out of your way to connect with fans and for entertaining us all!
And to the douche-cabooses that camped out (because we all know they’re reading this and muttering angrily to themselves like the psychos they are):
Manners: Get you some!
It’s all in context… when they are with their family, you should restrain yourself. Crossing the street? Squeal. (lol)
The movie industry has taken an interest in my state (tax incentive!) and we’ve had a huge influx of big names, it’s not normal for us, and it’s fun.
One of my former co-workers got to hang out all evening with Drew Barrymore in a dive bar nearby… Jason Segel and Jim Krasinski crashed a wedding a few weeks ago, and sang karaoke with a bunch of people a few days after that. It seems like they’re able to go out and play with the locals a bit more here. And I guess they’re having fun. If not they’d hole up in their rented apartment, right?
Yes, you are a sci fi celebrity and people will be excited to see you, BUT that does not give anyone the right to mob and expect you to drop everything and sign/talk/ allow them to stalk you. Society is a bit effed at times and needs to schooled in proper manners (says the mom who said effed in her post 😉 ) I promise you this, if I ever see you on the street I might (will) goofily wave at you but I won’t be obsessive stalker girl.
I think about these sort of things all of the time. Celebrity of any kind, why we treat things celebrities do as news, why we have magazines full of things about actors personal lives/etc, why anyone things anything not shared by a person is our business?
I had to recently write a fb post about people adding people to their friends list who were ‘famous’ from my f-list and how it can be so bothersome when you keep some things secret.
I have never understood why people feel the need to elevate people to a status that causes them to act like this. They completely forget that you are a person too. People lose the respect they have for every other person they meet and they feel like they have a right to something from you because you are famous in some way.
I can’t say its happened to me too many times, but the few times it has, it has been pretty terrifying.
This is not a bad idea at all.
I have an issue with being touched, and I wish there was a way to make people understand it when I go to cons or anything because I know if I had a shirt that said ‘don’t touch me, please.’ That people would do it just to be jerks. I have started traveling with groups of guys/girls that I am comfortable around and I stay inside of them.
This so hard. The people that act like this scare me so much.
Yeah, I don’t think I would want an autograph from someone I just tried to guilt/blackmail into signing it.
URGH. The 8×10 people. I go see plays and tend to wait outside the stage door to see if I can get a photo/get my program signed. Sometimes there’s a couple of people, sometimes 20+. And most of the time, if said actor has been in a tv show or film, you get the autograph dealers. Who are going to turn right round and sell it.
Most of the time, the actor is happy to sign/pose for a few, but often as not they’ve got friends/bed/a party waiting for them. Which most of us accept, say how much we liked their performance, shrug and go home. the autograph dealers still try and shove the photos in their faces. And a lot of the actors really hate the dealers. You can spot them pretty easily, with their sheafs of 8x10s. They’re happy to sign for the fans, but I’m seeing a gradual increase in the actors who refuse to sign for the dealers.
I am terribly sorry that you had an experience such as that.
I hate that people behave that way toward “celebrities” (I dislike that term) and I hate that people feel that because a person has a high-profile job, they automatically become a commodity and should expect to be bought and sold and put on display.
I am glad, though, that you recognize that there are many more of your “fans” (another term of which I am not overly fond) who respect you as a creative person as well as a regular person, and I hope that this experience does not scare you away from interacting with and meeting your “fans” in appropriate settings.
It is my hope (and has been since I was 13) that someday I will meet you in an appropriate setting and get to share that moment where respect and admiration is imparted and everyone walks away happier.
Until then, I wish you only good dealings with the general populace. I am glad you shared this story. You need apologize to no one.
That sucks. I think you definitely lived up to your motto despite strong provocation.
It definitely is about the moment, not the physical object… at least for the moderately non-crazy people.
Having read this, I’m now even more grateful for how friendly Walter Koenig was when I accidentally accosted him with marketing at London Film and Comic Con. My defence is that I’d been offering fliers to everyone who glanced in my direction all weekend and he was wearing a cap so I didn’t recognise him at once.
He was really nice. He stopped and chatted to me about my book when he was probably exhausted from a weekend of dealing with crazed fans. When he headed off, I was squeeing like crazy about having talked with him. The moment was awesome – the fact that I didn’t get an autograph doesn’t matter.
But I did feel incredibly guilty about stopping him when he was leaving the convention. I don’t think I’d be able to walk up to a celebrity in the street.
As a fan, I want to say that I am so very sorry. I hope the people who follow this wonderful blog let you know that we are not all that insane and that you really mean a lot to us. Not only are you a nerd god, but you are a genuinely kind, funny, and GOOD person. And above all, you are a wonderful writer.
High fives and hugs from idols are something I one day hope to experience (its difficult at 17 in a small town), and I hope you havnt been turned off from meeting fans because of the crazies by the time I get the chance. You are a wonderful person, please continue to rock the blogosphere!
I’ve been a NKOTB fan for over 20 years and while I’ve had my share of borderline crazy moments over that time, I think the majority of them were when I was a teenager. But even now, I see fans like the ones you’re talking about who literally spend entire days camped out arenas and hotels waiting for them.
It’s hard for “regular” people to remember that just because someone’s in public that it doesn’t make that person open to being approached. I can understand a “hi” or “loved the show” here or there (I said something like this just yesterday at a mall when I happened upon a certain boy bander), but expecting a celebrity to bend to my every whim is ridiculous.
You chose to be an ACTOR, not a public speaker. You have a right to privacy and if nothing, you have more right to privacy than the average joe BECAUSE you spend so much time with your life in the public eye.
Kudos to you for standing up for yourself. More celebs should do that and maybe it would start minimizing the cars on the crazy train one nutjob at a time.
Funnily enough, the people who were camped out for the panels were friendly and excited. We walked past a bunch of them who were really excited to see Felicia, and they all smiled, waved, thanked her for her work, and that was it. I think that illustrates the difference between people who really honestly love something (I think they were waiting for Castle) and people who were dropped on the head as a child and think people like Felicia and I owe them something.
Glad to hear you made it out of that situation. As a security supervisor myself (I work at a casino in Las Vegas), I am utterly appalled at how badly the event organisers and the venue dropped the ball. Security extends beyond the dance floor, and the folks responsible should have made sure the property was clear of crowds like that. they were negligent in my book, and that negligence placed you in a position where you were assaulted (and yes, what happened to you would constitute assault in Nevada).
Now that i have that off of my chest, i will climb down off my soapbox and say that you are FAR from being a dick. Hell, you are gracious enough to invite us into your family life on a regular basis. You are warm, funny, a good actor, a good writer, and you genuinely care about your fans and admirers.
You have nothing to feel bad about, and if it was me I would have been on my cellphone with the police when that woman started following me. So in that, you showed alot more forbearance than I would have. Keep being who you are, and don’t worry what the selfish who think they own you think.
On a side note, how is the homebrew coming along?
The excerpt from Wil’s book is spot on. The autograph is really more of an excuse. The point is to make the memory and see what kind of person they are- to make a connection even if it is brief. The first time I met Wil at PAX we talked about our T-shirt addictions and the algorithms we use to make sure we don’t wear the same shirt too close together. I really wouldn’t want my memory to be of my favorite actor running away and cursing me. I don’t see how anyone would except that like Wil said- that’s not what the zealots are after.
They are looking for self worth outside of themselves, which is why they react so badly when they don’t get what they want. They don’t see it as an actor not signing an autograph, they see it as losing their some of their self worth.
It’s sad but inexcusable.
Wil you could always get your own squad of enforcers- I’d volunteer, but I don’t scare anyone 🙂
We’re all glad that you still do what you do even knowing people like that are out there.
Having spent my entire life in Los Angeles, and being in situations where I’ve met celebrities, I can’t say that I’ve ever really felt comfortable intruding in their space to ask for an autograph. Granted, there’s been moments that they have intruded on mine accidentally, and I’d rather have that than an autograph. It always kills me to see people hounding for an autograph in that creepy stalker type manner. It’s tacky and uncomfortable.
I’ve had many a, “Hey, isn’t that *insert sport/actor/actress/famous person here*…” moments and it’s people like that woman who harrassed you that keep me on my side of the street and not crazy fan running to catch up with whoever the famous person is. I can’t believe how some folks believe that since you’re famous you asked for it. Sheez.
Then again, those people aren’t going to be holding a stack of 8×10 glossies to be signed. This situation is going to be the “holy shi…! It’s Wil Wheaton! Can I get a picture with you, please oh please oh please,” and not the “sign these you bastard” people.
And… if someone is just walking around with a stack of Wil Wheaton 8×10 glossies, just hoping for the off chance that they run into him, then they are creepy, really creepy.
And I wonder: Why do they do this? A forced autograph or photo can´t make you happy, can it?
I admit I´ve never been to such a huge Convention like ComicCon. My “home” is the FedCon in Germany. And I love how the guests just come out for party and nice chats with us fans – without being forced.
You just hang out with your friends, enjoy yourself and in the next moment (for example) Aaron Douglas joins the group and want to take pictures and chat. Because HE wanted it. Best.Evening.Ever. – the only photos taken were by himself, by the way 😛
But sadly even there are still a few idiots every year, who want to take photos and get autographs at the convention area/hotel when the guests just want to have a good free time at the bar.
This year I freaked because you were at FedCon. We were a group of people with “Wesley Crushers” Shirts and had asked if it is possible to do a groupshot with you at the official photosession. Luckily,it was. Problem was, that your photosession was sheduled right after the opening ceremonies, which I ´had`to attend so I wear my shirt even backstage. Back there I nearly died seeing you. Out of 2 reasons. 1) OMG what an AWESOME Doctor Who Shirt 2) Gosh. I stare. He must think I´m a total douche.
I really hope you weren´t uncomfortable with our group-attack at the photosession. ´cause for us it was one of the best moments and are still talking about how nice you were and laugh watching the pictures.
Or in short: Your reaction to these people/woman was more than appropriate. I hope I will never cross the line – but if I do because my Fangirlheart explodes and my brain fails I hope there will be somebody who brings me down.
It can be a thin line between expressing how much you love a person´s work and being slightly strange – but hopefully never rude.