What do celebrities owe the public?
This is a question that’s been floating around for generations.
Yes, famous people wouldn’t be famous or successful without their fans.
But they do have their own private lives to live.
Right?
Or is it too much to ask for a single photo?
Case in point…
Redditor aitarudecelebrity wanted to discuss their experience and get some feedback. So naturally, they came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
They asked:
“AITA for making a post about my daughter’s favorite celebrity being rude to us?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“My daughter and I were recently on vacation.”
“We spent the day in an area that’s known to have a lot of rich/famous people and towards the end of the day we saw one of my daughter’s favorite celebrities (we’ll call her A) walking out of a store.”
“My daughter ran to the store but when she got near A, she was stopped by A’s security.”
“They said that A’s there with her daughter for her daughter’s birthday and wants to focus on her daughter.”
“My daughter was very upset because she’s been a fan of A for a very long time so she tried again for a picture but was turned away.”
“My daughter was crushed so later that night I made a post talking about my experience with A.”
“How she wouldn’t let anyone go near her and her daughter, the fact that her security was rude, and her not being willing to stop for a couple seconds for a picture.”
“I understand it’s her daughter’s birthday but a 1 minute interaction with a fan isn’t going to ruin her day and if it does, that girl needs to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around her.”
“The post ended up getting a lot of attention and a lot of people actually said my daughter and I were being entitled for expecting A to interrupt her daughter’s birthday for everyone that wants a picture.”
“My husband also saw the post and said he couldn’t believe that I would bash her for trying to spend the day with her daughter.”
“I’m not trying to bash her for spending the day with her daughter but she wouldn’t be where she is without her fans, so I think she at least owes it to them to take a picture.”
“AITA for making the post about A?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared OP WAS the A**hole.
“That girl needs to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around her.”
“Kinda the lesson I’m thinking you and your daughter need to learn, to be honest. YTA.” ~ Dszquphsbnt
“OP, YTA. A celebrity’s life is packed to the gills with scheduled events.”
“They need to also schedule time with their kids in order to make it happen and not get swamped by professional events.”
“Celebrity A scheduled time with her daughter for her daughter’s birthday.”
“Yes, her daughter is more important to her than your daughter is, no matter how big a fan your daughter is.”
“And saying that she could’ve taken ‘a minute’ for your daughter–that’s not how it works.”
“That’s not what would happen.”
“First of all, she’d be telling her daughter that even during the celebration of the daughter’s birthday, a random other girl neither of them has ever met is more important to her than her own daughter.”
“Her daughter probably misses out on a lot of time with her mom, because of how heavily her mom is scheduled.”
“Expecting to be able to interrupt the daughter’s birthday on demand so your daughter can get a picture, is unbelievably rude and entitled.”
“And reducing both A and her daughter from the status of human beings to mere props for your enjoyment.”
“Second–once A did it for your daughter, people would notice, and they’d be swamped by other kids each wanting ‘just one picture.'”
“The only way they can have their private birthday celebration is to Just Say No to every entitled mom and her golden child.”
“There’s no way to say yes to one and no to all the others without causing much unhappiness and bad publicity.”
“Oh, and her own daughter’s birthday was ruined, but obviously you don’t care about that.”
“Learn some manners.” ~ Ornery-Ad-4818
“THIS. I go to my area’s Comic Con every year, and one thing you hear over and over when celebs are asked ‘What’s the rudest fan encounter you’ve ever had?'”
“It’s invariably along the lines of ‘I was with my family/doing something with a friend/eating/etc and FAN came up and interrupted/demanded attention/threw a fit when I politely said I was busy.”
“So thanks but no autograph/selfie/whatever.'”
“I’ve heard of fans physically pushing between the celeb’s family/friends and the celeb to get attention.”
“I’ve also gone to Sundance Film Festival in years past, so I’ve had ample opportunity to observe some famous names.”
“Like, these are real people.”
“If you see them in public and they’re obviously busy, think twice about interrupting.”
“Would YOU like strangers constantly butting into your time with family/friends?”
“If you DO decide to approach…”
“1) be polite–don’t push your way between people and…”
“2) if they say thanks but no thanks, please leave me alone, RESPECT THAT ANSWER.”
“In the end, they owe you NOTHING.”
“Nearly every celeb I’ve encountered has been kind and if they didn’t want to be bothered were equally polite in telling me (or whoever nearby had asked) no.”
“But, you have to respect that answer. OP, YTA.” ~ infiniteanomaly
“YTA… OP celebrities and famous people are just people who have the same rights and privacy all of us other non-people do.”
“I will never understand why people get so bent out of shape on a reaction from one of them as rude when they literally don’t owe us or anyone else a single thing.”
“They have jobs as we do.” ~ Chaos_pixi1214
“This was a chance for her daughter to learn that she’s not entitled to other people’s time no matter how famous they are.”
“As a woman, she will likely encounter men who feel entitled to her time to shoot their shot, and this could have been an excellent lesson about respecting boundaries.”
“This could have also been a chance for her to learn to respect ‘no’ when she was told the first time not to bother the celebrity anymore.”
“Instead, the mother had to make it all about her daughter’s disappointment and how the celebrity is responsible for managing that.” ~ LissaBryan
“YTA. Her time with her daughter is more important than having it disturbed by posing for a picture with your daughter.”
“Maybe try using this to explain the importance of family to your daughter.” ~ CollegeEquivalent607
“And this is how it should be.”
“Regardless of the fact that their job makes them famous, it’s still separate from their actual lives, just like our jobs.”
“Nobody is out here flagging down the butcher when they see them at the mall and trying to get a picture and discuss all the cuts of meats he deals with.”
“And they shouldn’t be.”
“OP YTA… and you’re teaching your daughter to be one too.”
“A’s daughter probably learned a lesson herself too: just because someone calls themselves a fan of Mommy, doesn’t mean they’re a good person.”
“I’m sure you made A uncomfortable and made her daughter feel scared.”
“Not to mention most celebs try to keep their kids out of the limelight; some outright refuse to tell their kids they’re famous.”
“A’s daughter might not realize A is famous and OP and her daughter just came at her and her mom out in public and it was probably frightening to be honest.”
“But that’s just that particular action.”
“You also went on social media to attack a celebrity who literally does not give a rats a** about you so you could feel superior and justified in your nonsense.”
“Again, showing your daughter exactly how NOT to act.”
“Highly suggest you do some growing up before you end up teaching your daughter all the wrong ways to be.” ~ MermaidsHaveCloacas
“The post reminds me of that video where Justin Bieber very sincerely asks fans to please not crowd the entrance to his building because it’s his home and he just wants one place he can have some peace.”
“And he’ll greet them literally anywhere else.”
“At the end, without missing a beat, one of the girls asks him for a hug.”
“It would be NAH if OP asked and was told no, although I’m of the belief you should leave celebrities alone in public, save it for a meet and greet.”
“But the fact that she kept pushing after being told it was celeb’s daughter’s bday alone makes OP YTA.”
“Then she turns around and thinks it’s a good idea to post trying to drag this celeb for wanting to celebrate a bday in peace?”
“Mega YTA.” ~ natphotog
“Famous people are still people.”
“A comedian was signing things, and taking pictures with fans, after his performance.”
“I waited in line with plenty of other people.”
“When it was my turn, I had no intention of taking more of his time than others got.”
“I mentioned something I knew he’d understand given his stand-up, and I thanked him.”
“This man instantly shifted from being funny, to just incredibly kind and compassionate.”
“He stepped aside to share a little knowledge, and I thanked him again before getting my pic and leaving.”
“This guy was literally there as an extension of his job, gave me an extra minute or two, and I still can’t get over how kind he was.”
“He didn’t owe me that extra time.”
“Meanwhile, OP’s working on some serious entitlement.”
“Celebrities aren’t there to perform on cue.”
“That person had every right to set aside their job and just be a parent on her kid’s birthday. YTA.” ~ DragonCelica
Well OP, Reddit is not really feeling your response.
Sorry your daughter feels bad.
But this could be a good learning lesson for her next celebrity encounter.