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Some Stranger Things Fans Seem to Be Forgetting That the Kids in That Show Are Actual Children

stranger things kids cast entitlement twitter barb

Over the weekend, a Stranger Things fan posted a video to Twitter in which he criticized Finn Wolfhard (who plays Mike) for refusing to stop for a picture. The video shows the fan waiting outside of Wolfhard’s hotel, calling to the actor as he leaves and again as he returns, presumably the same night. The caption for the video reads, “Imagine being 14 and heartless that you can’t even stop for your fans who made you famous in the first place! WOW.”

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That is a horrible way to react to this situation, for reasons Shannon “Barb” Purser was quick to point out as she jumped in to defend her former co-star.

https://twitter.com/shannonpurser/status/926928218191466496

In addition to being human, Wolfhard is fourteen. A child. A child who’s working a full-time job.

It would be truly fantastic if we could stop needing to have this conversation. As fans, we are in no way entitled to any part of actors that they do not choose to share with us. The price of fame is not full access and availability at all times for whatever purpose any random person demands, especially not–and again, I can’t believe this actually has to be stated this explicitly–WHEN THE PERSON WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IS A CHILD.

https://twitter.com/SophieT/status/927653919773294604

https://twitter.com/SophieT/status/927653996256473093

And while we’re on the subject of ways we should 100% not be talking about these children, let’s add this to the list:

https://twitter.com/MikeSington/status/923976658985533440

This isn’t just limited to a few frenzied fans. Paparazzi and some reporters would also do well to remember that these are children.

These are humans. They are actors, meaning they produce work for us to consume and no part of their job permits fans to make demands on them personally. And please let’s not forget:

(image: Shutterstock)

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Vivian Kane
Vivian Kane (she/her) is the Senior News Editor at The Mary Sue, where she's been writing about politics and entertainment (and all the ways in which the two overlap) since the dark days of late 2016. Born in San Francisco and radicalized in Los Angeles, she now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she gets to put her MFA to use covering the local theatre scene. She is the co-owner of The Pitch, Kansas City’s alt news and culture magazine, alongside her husband, Brock Wilbur, with whom she also shares many cats.

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