Popular culture has become overrun by celebrity culture. Being seen is more valued than being cool or interesting or even attractive in most cases. Meeting a celebrity isn’t about coming face to face with a personal hero, but instead a networking opportunity to climb the social ladder via selfies. (Donald Glover’s Atlanta crafted the recent episode “Champagne Papi” around this phenomenon, where partygoers paid a fee to take pictures with cardboard cutouts of Drake.)
My repulsion to this shift in our culture probably explains why I love a new social media trend. The past weekend podcaster John Moe asked his Twitter followers for their “most boring, mundane, inconsequential celebrity encounter.” Nothing grand, no epiphany was had. No pictures were taken and there’s no proof really that you even met the celebrity.
Too often we only see celebrities as symbols of something greater than they are. But here we’re given a chance to see them as messy, silly humans. Here’s some of our favorites from the responses.
https://twitter.com/kateleth/status/990492668483416065
Chris Rock held the door open for me as I was leaving a Vietnamese restaurant with takeout https://t.co/WGj5V2Ho9p
— Zach Shevich (@ZShevich) April 28, 2018
One time Mika Kunis tried to play with a dog I was walking when we were in line at a cafe, and I (not recognizing her at firs) said, “I’m actually trying to get her to calm down.” She was very apologetic.
— G. T. Karber (@gregkarber) April 28, 2018
I directed Judy Davis to the correct immigration line at the Vancouver airport.
— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) April 30, 2018
Road trip family vacation to Washington DC in 1993. Dad pulls minivan over, rolls down window and asks “Attorney General Janet Reno, can I give you a ride?”. She said “No”.
— molly mccartney (@mollycmccartney) April 28, 2018
At hotel bar in Dublin, old guy at next table is angrily talking into mobile phone and says: “I need a to write that down”. Pats pockets – no pen. I lend him mine. He returns it after writing something down, mutters thanks, leaves bar. Van Morrison. https://t.co/VBEd0kt6Ll
— Christian Cassidy (@WestEndCassidy) April 29, 2018
I talked to Martin Freeman for about 15 minutes in a queue in the dry cleaners because i recognised him and thought he played hockey with my brother. He chatted the whole time and never once let on who he was. https://t.co/ViLzKSJo5a
— Laura Shepherd-Robinson 🇺🇦 (@LauraSRobinson) April 29, 2018
@jonvandyke @THE_Steve_Lowry
I met Jeff Bridges in a Walgreens in the middle of the night, he was alone buying liquor. It left me feeling empty inside.— Jesse Lusko (@jesselusko) April 29, 2018
I saw Ben Affleck buy a banana and then sulk off to his illegally parked car.
— Ozu Is My Homie (@jonccrow) April 28, 2018
I was in line behind one of the Backstreet Boys at an airport McDonald’s and he asked me if 20 was too many nuggets. https://t.co/9t9Vk0P6FG
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) April 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/990475961408765952
